Declining since 2022, #3,658 for boys today.
Popularity of Kaz since 1918
Babies named Kaz per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 25 |
| 1980s | 73 |
| 1990s | 98 |
| 2000s | 96 |
| 2010s | 180 |
| 2020s | 248 |
Meaning & origin
Kaz is a concise, modern short form with Slavic roots. It emerged as a given name in the U.S. around 1918, but remained extremely rare for decades. Its recent trajectory shows a spike: the name reached its peak rank of 3658 in 2023, with a current rank of 3658 in 2025. Since 2022, its usage has been falling slightly. Kaz is most common in California and Texas. The name's appeal likely stems from its brevity and strong sound, while still carrying the historic weight of its longer form Casimir.
Kaz originated as a diminutive of Kazimierz, the Polish form of the Slavic name Casimir. The name Casimir is composed of the elements kazić 'to destroy' or 'proclaim' and mir 'peace', giving the combined meaning 'destroyer of peace' or 'proclaimer of peace', with the latter being the more common interpretation. Historically, Casimir was borne by several Polish saints and kings, and its short form Kaz gained some modern use as an independent given name.
Where Kaz is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Kaz
Names that share Kaz's style, for a brother or sister.
