NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Kaya

Of Arawak origin meaning "pure" or "wise home".

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 697 boys.

Kaya is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #594, with 66 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 100 births.

This profile covers 1,993 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 66% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 2,131 living people in the UK are called Kaya. 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

  • Kaya ranked #594 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 66 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 100 girls were registered as Kaya.
  • Kaya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
  • Kaya is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 2,131 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 74.1% of Kaya registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#594

2024

Births in 2024

66

Latest year

Peak year

2010

100 births

Estimated living

2,131

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Kaya

In England and Wales birth records, Kaya has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 25.9% of registrations are for boys and 74.1% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

26% boys
74% girls
Boys697 (25.9%)Girls1,993 (74.1%)

Kaya registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,282 in 2024
  • 21 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2016 (39 births)

Kaya registered for girls

  • Ranked #594 in 2024
  • 66 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2010 (100 births)

Meaning

What does Kaya mean?

The name Kaya has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "kaya," which means "body" or "physical form." This Sanskrit root can also be traced to the Thai language, where the name Kaya is a common feminine name meaning "free" or "without restraint."

In Japanese culture, the name Kaya is associated with the Japanese word "kayou," which means "to be fragrant" or "to emit a pleasant aroma." This connection possibly stems from the Japanese appreciation for nature and the beauty found in fragrances.

The name Kaya also has roots in Native American cultures. In the Lakota Sioux language, "Kaya" means "to go" or "to follow a path." This meaning resonates with the nomadic lifestyle and spiritual journeys of many Native American tribes.

Historically, the name Kaya can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and Hindu scriptures, where it is often used as a term for the physical body or as a reference to the spiritual essence within. In Buddhist teachings, the concept of "kaya" is also mentioned, referring to the physical manifestation of enlightened beings.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kaya was Kaya Upanishad, an ancient Indian sage and philosopher who lived around the 6th century BCE. Her teachings and writings contributed to the development of Hindu philosophies and spiritual traditions.

In the realm of art and literature, Kaya Matissiere was a French painter and sculptor born in 1835. She was known for her vibrant portraits and her involvement in the Impressionist movement.

Kaya Fon Brunt, born in 1908, was a Swedish writer and journalist who gained recognition for her novels and short stories exploring themes of identity and societal norms.

In the field of music, Kaya Jones, born in 1984, is an American singer-songwriter and former member of the Pussycat Dolls pop group. Her solo work has explored various genres, including pop, rock, and country.

Another notable figure with the name Kaya was Kaya Muller, a German environmental activist and advocate for sustainable living. Born in 1960, she played a significant role in raising awareness about the impact of human activities on the planet.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Kaya throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural diversity and human experience.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kaya over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kaya in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Kaya, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 66 births in 2024, compared with 100 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0326395126199620102024

Decades

Kaya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kaya 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 #558 355 5
2010s #530 813 10
2000s #540 620 10
1990s #577 205 4

Geography

Where Kaya is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kaya. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Kaya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.

Scotland
5
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Kaya in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#541 in 2024

27 years of NRS records, 135 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#391 in 2023

4 years of NISRA records, 14 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Kaya

  • Kaya Stewart

    singer; songwriter

    English-American singer and songwriter

    2000-

  • Kaya Scodelario

    actor; child actor; television actor; film actor; model

    British actress

    1992-

Related

Names similar to Kaya

FAQ

Kaya: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kaya in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kaya was ranked #594 for girls in England and Wales, with 66 births registered.

When was Kaya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 100 babies registered as Kaya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kaya?

Of Arawak origin meaning "pure" or "wise home".

How many people are called Kaya in the UK?

A total of 1,993 babies have been registered as Kaya across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 135 more in Scotland and 14 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Kaya most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Kaya ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #391 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.