Kaia is a moderately popular girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #265 in 2025 with 173 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 173 births ranking #265. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 2,783.3%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 1,464 girls born was named Kaia. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Kaia is more specific than the earlier broad draft suggested. Behind the Name treats it primarily as a Norwegian and Estonian diminutive of Katarina or Katariina, which places it in the wider Katherine family.
Modern international use has given Kaia a wider feel, but the sourced route on Behind the Name is Scandinavian and Baltic rather than a loose mix of unrelated meanings. That gives the name a clearer home tradition and helps tighten the entry.