Rising since 2004, #3,450 for boys today.
Popularity of Kayan since 2002
Babies named Kayan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 | 45 |
| 2010s | 54 | 186 |
| 2020s | 185 | 183 |
Meaning & origin
Kayan is a modern name that has seen gradual growth since it first appeared in U.S. records in 2002. Though used for both sexes, it is predominantly given to girls. The name's peak in popularity came in 2024, and its trajectory has been steadily rising since 2004. Despite its relatively low rank of 3450 in 2025, with a frequency of about 1 in 51760 births, Kayan reflects the trend toward melodic, cross-cultural names. Its exact origins are debated: it may be an Arabic word meaning 'existence' or a purely invented name inspired by sounds like 'Kai' and 'Maya'. Parents drawn to Kayan often appreciate its soft yet distinctive sound.
Kayan is a name of uncertain derivation. It may be a variant of the Arabic name Kayan, meaning 'existence' or 'being'. Alternatively, it could be a modern English coinage combining the popular 'Kai' sound with the trendy '-an' suffix. Its use in the United States began in the early 2000s and has steadily increased.
“Kayan” around the world
Where Kayan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kay, Kai
Sibling names for Kayan
Names that share Kayan's style, for a brother or sister.
