Kaia has two natural sources: in Scandinavia it is a short form of Katarina and so means "pure", and in Hawaiian kai means "sea", which gives the name an ocean note that many American parents prefer. Model Kaia Gerber, daughter of Cindy Crawford, has made it widely known. Kaia has been in the US top 1000 since 2000, when it ranked number 905; it rose from number 447 in 2015 to a peak of 180 in 2024 and stands at number 193 in 2025.