Declining since 2021, #7,133 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaisa since 1966
Babies named Kaisa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2003, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kaisa's real moment was 2022.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 40 |
| 1980s | 94 |
| 1990s | 118 |
| 2000s | 191 |
| 2010s | 150 |
| 2020s | 99 |
Meaning & origin
Kaisa is a Finnish feminine name that entered American records modestly in 1966. As of 2025 it ranked 7,133th with a one-in-107,151 frequency, reflecting its niche but enduring appeal. Its peak popularity came in 2022, and it has been falling steadily since 2021, consistent with the trajectory of many Scandinavian imports in the U.S. Though not heavily concentrated in any single state, Kaisa offers a crisp, two-syllable alternative to Katherine, carrying the 'pure' meaning from its Greek-derived root. The name's Finnish identity gives it a cool Nordic resonance, and its simple spelling makes it accessible across cultures.
Kaisa is a Finnish short form of Katariina, the Finnish form of Katherine, which itself derives from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning is traditionally associated with 'pure' (from Greek katharos), though the etymology is uncertain. The name has been used in Finland since the 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai
Variants: Kaija, Kaisu
Sibling names for Kaisa
Names that share Kaisa's style, for a brother or sister.
