Rising since 1985, #6,838 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaja since 1957
Babies named Kaja per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 17 |
| 1970s | 21 |
| 1980s | 85 |
| 1990s | 141 |
| 2000s | 175 |
| 2010s | 175 |
| 2020s | 92 |
Meaning & origin
Kaja entered U.S. records in 1957 but remained rare until the 1980s. Its trajectory has been steadily rising since 1985, peaking in 2012. With a current rank of 6,838 and a 1-in-100,454 frequency, Kaja is an uncommon but increasingly appreciated choice. The name reflects a broader trend of Scandinavian and Slavic short forms gaining international appeal.
Kaja is a diminutive of the Scandinavian Kajsa, itself a pet form of Karin (a variant of Katherine). In Slavic contexts, Kaja is sometimes a nickname for Karolina or other names beginning with Ka-. The name gained independence in the 20th century and is most common in Norway, Denmark, and Slovenia. Its core meaning ties back to the Greek Aikaterine, associated with 'pure'.
“Kaja” around the world
Where Kaja lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Kaja
Names that share Kaja's style, for a brother or sister.
