Kaia is a moderately popular girls' name in United States, ranking #186 in 2023 with 1,612 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2024 with 1,675 births ranking #180. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 2,830.9%. In 2023, approximately 1 in every 994 girls born was named Kaia. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
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.