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At a Glance: Name: Kea – Origin: uncertain (possibly Hawaiian-inspired coinage) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: KAY-ah
Kea is a short, breezy name that works for any gender, pronounced KAY-ah. It has a free-spirited, well-traveled, pared-down feel suited to parents drawn to nature and open horizons. You may have heard it's Hawaiian for 'sea' or 'to rejoice,' but that's not accurate — the only documented source for this spelling is a Greek island in the Cyclades, and the name's real origin is uncertain, possibly a modern Hawaiian-inspired coinage.
Meaning & Origin of Kea
Origin: uncertain (possibly Hawaiian-inspired coinage).
A common claim: Sometimes claimed to be Hawaiian for 'sea' or 'to rejoice.' Actually: Those meanings aren't supported — under this spelling, the name matches a Greek island (Kea, in the Cyclades), unrelated to any Hawaiian root.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kea
Phonetic: KAY-ah IPA: /ˈkeɪə/
Popularity of Kea
In U.S. Social Security records spanning 1964 to 2022, Kea peaked at rank #2899 in 1978 with 28 babies given the name, and had fallen to rank #11717 by 2022 with just 8.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1964–2022.
Make Kea Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kea, 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 Kea mean?
Sometimes claimed to be Hawaiian for ‘sea’ or ‘to rejoice.’ Those meanings aren’t supported — under this spelling, the name matches a Greek island (Kea, in the Cyclades), unrelated to any Hawaiian root.
How do you pronounce Kea?
Kea is pronounced KAY-ah (IPA: /ˈkeɪə/).
Is Kea a popular name right now?
Kea peaked at #2899 in 1978 and is ranked #11717 as of 2022. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1964–2022.)
📊 How popular is Kea? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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