UK girl's name
Kaiah
Of Hawaiian origin, meaning "guardian of the water's edge".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kaiah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kaiah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 6 births.
This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Kaiah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kaiah ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 6 girls were registered as Kaiah.
- • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kaiah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2022
6 births
Estimated living
44
2026
Meaning
What does Kaiah mean?
The name Kaiah is a relatively modern invention, with its origins traced back to the late 20th century. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Kaia, which itself is a diminutive form of the name Kaiah, meaning "to be adored" or "cherished one." While the name's precise roots are unclear, it is thought to have been created by parents seeking a unique and feminine name for their daughters.
Despite its recent coinage, the name Kaiah has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States and Australia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaiah can be found in the 1990s, when it began appearing in birth records and census data, albeit in small numbers.
Over the years, several notable individuals have borne the name Kaiah. One such person is Kaiah Compton (born 1995), an American actress and singer who has appeared in various television shows and films, including the Nickelodeon series "School of Rock." Another individual named Kaiah is Kaiah Walker (born 1997), a Canadian football player who currently plays as a wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.
Kaiah Martin (born 1990) is a British entrepreneur and author who has written several books on personal development and mindfulness. In the world of sports, Kaiah Rivera (born 1993) is a Puerto Rican track and field athlete who specializes in sprinting events and has represented her country in international competitions.
Additionally, Kaiah Stokes (born 1987) is an American visual artist known for her intricate and thought-provoking mixed media installations, which have been featured in various galleries and exhibitions across the United States.
While the name Kaiah may be relatively new, it has quickly gained popularity and recognition, with its unique spelling and melodic sound appealing to many parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kaiah over time
The chart below shows babies named Kaiah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kaiah, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaiah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kaiah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4337 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4806 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #5040 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kaiah
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kaiah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kaiah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kaiah was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kaiah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 6 babies registered as Kaiah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kaiah?
Of Hawaiian origin, meaning "guardian of the water's edge".
How many people are called Kaiah in the UK?
A total of 44 babies have been registered as Kaiah across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.