How to say it
KAI · ya
ˈkaɪ.ə
Feminine
Kaiya
Sea, or a modern Kai elaboration
What it means
Kaiya is a modern name often tied to the sea, echoing Japanese and Hawaiian kai, 'ocean,' and built as an elaboration of Kai and Kaia.
Kaiya is a modern, convergent name with no single fixed root. It is most naturally read through kai, which means 'sea' or 'ocean' in both Japanese and Hawaiian, so the name is widely felt to mean 'the sea.' Some Japanese readings also gloss it as 'forgiveness,' and in an Aboriginal Australian language kaiya means 'spear,' but in American use it functions mainly as a flowing elaboration of Kai and Kaia. It came into circulation in the 21st century and eased down slightly in the most recent US rankings while staying within the girls' top 1000.
How to spell Kaiya
The standard spelling is Kaiya. Common variants include Kaia, Kaya, Kaiyah, but Kaiya is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #651 in 2002, currently #994 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
KY-uh, two syllables.
Spelling variants
- Kaia
- Kaya
- Kaiyah
Names with the same feeling
See Kaiya from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kaiya mean?
- Kaiya is a modern name often tied to the sea, echoing Japanese and Hawaiian kai, 'ocean,' and built as an elaboration of Kai and Kaia.
- What does Kaiya mean in Modern coinage?
- In Modern coinage, Kaiya means "Sea, or a modern Kai elaboration." Kaiya is a modern, convergent name with no single fixed root. It is most naturally read through kai, which means 'sea' or 'ocean' in both Japanese and Hawaiian, so the name is widely felt to mean 'the sea.' Some Japanese readings also gloss it as 'forgiveness,' and in an Aboriginal Australian language kaiya means 'spear,' but in American use it functions mainly as a flowing elaboration of Kai and Kaia. It came into circulation in the 21st century and eased down slightly in the most recent US rankings while staying within the girls' top 1000.
- How do you pronounce Kaiya?
- Kaiya is pronounced ˈkaɪ.ə. Say it as KAI-ya, with the stress on the "kai" syllable.
- How do you spell Kaiya?
- The standard spelling is Kaiya. Common spelling variants include Kaia, Kaya, Kaiyah.
- Is Kaiya a boy or girl name?
- Kaiya is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kaiya?
- Kaiya ranked #994 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.