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At a Glance: Name: Kaia – Meaning: variant of Catherine (via Finnish/Estonian Katariina), traditionally glossed 'pure' – Origin: Finnish/Estonian (variant of Katariina/Catherine) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: KY-ah
Kaia is pronounced KY-ah, and while it's often said to be Hawaiian for 'sea,' that isn't well supported — the name is more likely a Finnish and Estonian variant of Katariina, the same root as Catherine, traditionally glossed 'pure.' It has a classic, steady feel, paired with an outdoorsy, wide-open quality that calls to mind travel and the natural world.
Meaning & Origin of Kaia
Meaning: Variant of catherine (via finnish/estonian katariina), traditionally glossed 'pure'.
Origin: Finnish/Estonian (variant of Katariina/Catherine).
A common claim: Often claimed to be Hawaiian for 'sea,' echoing Kai. Actually: No Hawaiian derivation is supported by the sources checked — Kaia is more likely a Finnish/Estonian variant of Katariina (Catherine), traditionally glossed 'pure.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kaia
Phonetic: KY-ah IPA: /ˈkaɪə/
Popularity of Kaia
In Social Security data covering 1955 to 2024, Kaia has never ranked higher than it did in 2024, reaching #180 with 1,675 baby girls given the name that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1955–2024.
Make Kaia Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kaia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Kaia mean?
Variant of catherine (via finnish/estonian katariina), traditionally glossed ‘pure’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kaia)
How do you pronounce Kaia?
Kaia is pronounced KY-ah (IPA: /ˈkaɪə/).
Is Kaia a popular name right now?
Kaia is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #180 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1955–2024.)
📊 How popular is Kaia? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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