Declining since 2012, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Keya since 1967
Babies named Keya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 465 |
| 1980s | 309 |
| 1990s | 267 |
| 2000s | 359 |
| 2010s | 398 |
| 2020s | 101 |
Meaning & origin
Keya is a rare and melodic name that first appeared on the U.S. naming charts in 1967. Its peak came in 1972, and by 2025 it ranked 7,491 with a one-in-114,805 frequency among newborn girls. The name's trajectory shows a falling trend since 2012, though its sound fits well with fashionable names like Kaia and Maya. The etymology is unclear; it may derive from a Sanskrit word for a monsoon flower or be a modern invention. Despite limited data, Keya's appeal lies in its brevity and soft, open vowel sound.
Keya is a name of uncertain origin, though it is often linked to the Sanskrit word 'keyā,' meaning a type of flower or perhaps 'monsoon.' It may also have emerged as a modern variation or diminutive of names like Kaia or Maya. The name has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century, likely influenced by cross-cultural naming trends.
“Keya” around the world
Where Keya 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, Kiki
Sibling names for Keya
Names that share Keya's style, for a brother or sister.
