How popular is the baby name Kaia in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Kaia.

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Popularity of the baby name Kaia


Posts that mention the name Kaia

How did “The Real World” influence baby names?

Title of the TV series "The Real World" (1992-2019)
“This is the true story…of seven strangers…picked to live in a loft…and have their lives taped…”

Several months ago, the cast of the inaugural season of MTV’s The Real World held a 6-day reunion in the very same NYC loft they shared back in 1992. The reunion — which was filmed, of course — is now airing as a series on the Paramount+ platform. (Here’s the trailer.)

When I was a teenager, I loved watching The Real World. (And I appreciated that the names of the cast members were always prominently displayed in the opening credits!) So I think now would be a great time to go back and see if any Real World cast member names had an influence on U.S. baby names.

First, let’s start with a comprehensive list of all the cast member names from each of RW‘s 33 (!) seasons…

  1. The Real World: New York (1992): Andre, Becky, Eric, Heather, Julie, Kevin, Norman
  2. The Real World: California (1993): Aaron, Beth (x2), David, Dominic, Glen, Irene, Jon, Tami
  3. The Real World: San Francisco (1994): Cory, Jo, Judd, Mohammed, Pam, Pedro, Puck, Rachel
  4. The Real World: London (1995): Jacinda, Jay, Kat, Lars, Mike, Neil, Sharon
  5. The Real World: Miami (1996): Cynthia, Dan, Flora, Joe, Melissa, Mike, Sarah
  6. The Real World: Boston (1997): Elka, Genesis, Jason, Kameelah, Montana, Sean, Syrus
  7. The Real World: Seattle (1998): David, Irene, Janet, Lindsay, Nathan, Rebecca, Stephen
  8. The Real World: Hawaii (1999): Amaya, Colin, Justin, Kaia, Matt, Ruthie, Teck
  9. The Real World: New Orleans (2000): Danny, David, Jamie, Julie, Kelley, Matt, Melissa
  10. The Real World: Back to New York (2001): Coral, Kevin, Lori, Malik, Mike, Nicole, Rachel
  11. The Real World: Chicago (2002): Aneesa, Cara, Chris, Keri, Kyle, Theo, Tonya
  12. The Real World: Las Vegas (2002-2003): Alton, Arissa, Brynn, Frank, Irulan, Steven, Trishelle
  13. The Real World: Paris (2003): Ace, Adam, Chris, Christina, Leah, Mallory, Simon
  14. The Real World: San Diego (2004): Brad, Cameran, Charlie, Frankie, Jacquese, Jamie, Randy, Robin
  15. The Real World: Philadelphia (2004-2005): Karamo, Landon, Melanie, M.J., Sarah, Shavonda, Willie
  16. The Real World: Austin (2005): Danny, Johanna, Lacey, Melinda, Nehemiah, Rachel, Wes
  17. The Real World: Key West (2006): Janelle, John, Jose, Paula, Svetlana, Tyler, Zach
  18. The Real World: Denver (2006-2007): Alex, Brooke, Colie, Davis, Jenn, Stephen, Tyrie
  19. The Real World: Sydney (2007-2008): Ashli, Cohutta, Dunbar, Isaac, KellyAnne, Parisa, Shauvon, Trisha
  20. The Real World: Hollywood (2008): Brianna, Brittini, Dave, Greg, Joey, Kimberly, Nick, Sarah, Will
  21. The Real World: Brooklyn (2009): Baya, Chet, Devyn, J.D., Katelynn, Ryan, Sarah, Scott
  22. The Real World: Cancun (2009): Ayiiia, Bronne, CJ, Derek, Emilee, Jasmine, Joey, Jonna
  23. The Real World: D.C. (2009-2010): Andrew, Ashley, Callie, Emily, Erika, Josh, Mike, Ty
  24. The Real World: New Orleans (2010): Ashlee, Eric, Jemmye, McKenzie, Preston, Ryan (x2), Sahar
  25. The Real World: Las Vegas (2011): Adam, Dustin, Heather (x2), Leroy, Michael, Nany, Naomi
  26. The Real World: San Diego (2011): Alexandra, Ashley, Frank, Nate, Priscilla, Sam, Zach
  27. The Real World: St. Thomas (2012): Brandon (x2), LaToya, Laura, Marie, Robb, Trey
  28. The Real World: Portland (2013): Anastasia, Averey, Jessica, Johnny, Joi, Jordan, Marlon, Nia
  29. Real World: Ex-Plosion (2014): Arielle, Ashley (x2), Brian, Cory, Hailey, Jamie, Jay, Jenna, Jenny, Lauren, Thomas
  30. Real World: Skeletons (2014-2015): Bruno, Jason, Madison, Nicole, Sylvia, Tony, Violetta
  31. Real World: Go Big or Go Home (2016): CeeJai, Chris, Dean, Dione, Dylan, Jenna, Kailah, Sabrina
  32. Real World Seattle: Bad Blood (2016-2017): Anika, Anna, Jennifer, Jordan, Kassius, Katrina, Kimberly, Mike, Orlana, Peter, Robbie, Theo, Tyara, Will
  33. The Real World: Atlanta (2019): Arely, Clint, Dondre, Justin, Meagan, Tovah, Yasmin

The names in boldface line up with a discernible increase in baby name usage. (Other Real World names may have affected baby names as well, but it can be hard to tell when, say, a name is already common, or already on the rise.)

Here are details on all the boldfaced names, plus two more influential RW names (from seasons 6 and 18) that didn’t even belong to primary cast members.

  • The name Jacinda (from season 4; 1995) saw peak usage in 1996.
  • The name Flora (5; 1996) saw increased usage in 1997.
  • The name Kameelah (6; 1997) saw increased usage in 1998.
  • The name Syrus (6; 1997) saw increased usage in 1997.
  • The name Jason (6; 1997) was probably not affected, but the name of Jason’s girlfriend, Timber, saw increased usage in 1998.
  • The name Amaya (8; 1999) saw sharply increased usage in 1999 and 2000.
  • The name Kaia (8; 1999) saw increased usage in 1999.
  • The name Ruthie (8; 1999) saw increased usage in 1999.
  • The name Aneesa (11; 2002) saw peak usage in 2002.
  • The name Arissa (12; 2002-3) saw peak usage in 2003.
  • The name Brynn (12; 2002-3) saw sharply increased usage in 2003.
  • The name Irulan (12; 2002-3) debuted in the data in 2003.
    • It looks like she was named after the fictional character Princess Irulan from Frank Herbert’s Dune books…?
  • The name Trishelle (12; 2002-3) saw peak usage in 2004.
  • The name Mallory (13; 2003) saw increased usage in 2003 and 2004.
  • The name Cameran (14; 2004) saw peak usage in 2004.
  • The name Jacquese (14; 2004) both returned to the data and saw peak usage in 2004.
  • The name Johanna (16; 2005) saw increased usage in 2005.
  • The name Nehemiah (16; 2005) saw increased usage in 2005 and 2006.
  • The name Janelle (17; 2006) saw increased usage in 2006.
  • The name Svetlana (17; 2006) saw peak usage in 2007.
  • The name Colie (18; 2006-7) both returned to the data and saw peak usage in 2007.
  • The name Tyrie (18; 2006-7) saw peak usage in 2007.
  • The name of Tyrie’s girlfriend, Jazalle, debuted in 2007 and is a one-hit wonder so far.
  • The name Kellyanne (19; 2007-8) returned to the data in 2008.
  • The name Baya (21; 2009) saw sharply increased usage in 2009. In fact, Baya was one of the fastest-rising baby names of 2009.
  • The name Averey (28; 2013) saw peak usage in 2013.
  • The name Kassius (32; 2016-17) saw increased usage in 2017.

Of all the names above, which one(s) do you like most?

And, for all the Real World fans out there: which season(s) do you like most? :)

Source: The Real World (TV series) – Wikipedia

Numerology: Baby names with a value of 4

Baby names with a numerological value of 4

If you’re on the hunt for baby names with a numerological value of 4, you’re in luck! Because today’s post features hundreds of 4-names.

Before we get to the names, though — how do we know that they’re “fours” in numerology?

Turning names into numbers

Here’s how to calculate the numerological value of a name.

First, for each letter, come up with a number to represent that letter’s position in the alphabet. (Letter A would be number 1, letter B would be number 2, and so forth.) Then, add all the numbers together. If the sum has two or more digits, add the digits together recursively until the result is a single digit. That single digit is the name’s numerological value.

For instance, the letters in the name Willow correspond to the numbers 23, 9, 12, 12, 15, and 23. The sum of these numbers is 94. The digits of 94 added together equal 13, and the digits of 13 added together equal 4 — the numerological value of Willow.

Baby names with a value of 4

Below you’ll find the most popular 4-names per gender, according to the latest U.S. baby name data. I’ve further sub-categorized them by total sums — just in case any of those larger numbers are significant to anyone.

4 via 13

The letters in the following baby names add up to 13, which reduces to four (1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 13)Boy names (4 via 13)
Cai, Eh, Cia, Gea, AabhaCade, Cai, Cj, Eh, Jc

4 via 22

The letters in the following baby names add up to 22, which reduces to four (2+2=4).

Girl names (4 via 22)Boy names (4 via 22)
Kaia, Lia, Ila, Giada, Ali, AichaAli, Lee, Dale, Akai, Hadi, Mace, Dael, Bane

4 via 31

The letters in the following baby names add up to 31, which reduces to four (3+1=4).

Girl names (4 via 31)Boy names (4 via 31)
Blake, Demi, Macie, Kara, Miah, Aliah, Janae, Delia, Echo, Haddie, Ayda, Gina, Cedar, Effie, Koda, Candace, HaliaJacob, Blake, Kaleb, Cash, Kane, Koda, Ahmed, Gian, Cedar, Gio, Mael, Adiel, Taj, Ved, Cree, Dev, Koe, Elam, Gene, Echo, Calan, Aahil

4 via 40

The letters in the following baby names add up to 40, which reduces to four (4+0=4).

Girl names (4 via 40)Boy names (4 via 40)
Maya, Angela, Kiara, Lola, Alaya, Megan, Linda, Kenia, Aadhya, Maleah, Tara, Hailee, Akira, Chiara, Kit, Joan, Kaira, Leni, Camden, Jude, Amya, Emmi, Danika, Nya, Elin, Melia, Skai, Janna, Aayla, Akari, Calani, AyalaDavid, Diego, Jude, Camden, Lucca, Zaid, Eliam, Neil, Dilan, Allan, Boden, Teo, Adler, Joan, Kenai, Abner, Kaine, Kit, Benaiah, Benji, Alder, Obadiah, Nile, Nate, Abdul, Kaeden, Jasai, Haze, Jacobi, Akari, Izaac, Jaciel, Bleu, Calian, Audie, Fateh, Blue, Akira, Halen, Jahkai, Kaidan, Elden, Tadhg, Amiel

4 via 49

The letters in the following baby names add up to 49, which reduces to four (4+9=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 49)Boy names (4 via 49)
Emilia, Athena, Jayla, Logan, Oaklee, Kyla, Isabela, Dallas, Milan, Amayah, Aliza, Gwen, Jianna, Harlee, Araceli, Billie, Alaiya, Jaycee, Reya, Mirha, Karen, Amiya, Ehlani, Emilee, Annabel, Ayva, Brisa, Coral, Luana, Niya, Johana, Carol, Tiara, Zaila, Ellamae, Kamani, Maiya, Auri, Aalayah, Islah, Fannie, Anora, BrigidLogan, Luke, Aaron, Jose, Milo, Adriel, Ayden, Dallas, Crew, Niko, Milan, Dariel, Bruce, Hamza, Clyde, Kenji, Brock, Ahmir, Carlo, Mazi, Eitan, Demir, Oaklee, Mahir, Jru, Hiram, Klay, Eydan, Aviel, Braeden, Sahil, Eziah, Jaycee, Ayub, Calix, Bennie, Atom, Kirk, Penn, Jahdiel, Kion, Rahim, Fares, Ason

4 via 58

The letters in the following baby names add up to 58, which reduces to four (5+8=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 58)Boy names (4 via 58)
Lily, Natalia, Liliana, Josie, Daisy, Arianna, Ariella, Milani, Nicole, Aniyah, Daniella, Ryan, Lylah, Kylee, Emerald, Kimber, Robin, Avayah, Magdalena, Paloma, Nyra, Indigo, Joyce, Jaylee, Amyra, Sonia, Elayna, Aleyna, Lailani, Ziva, Jalayah, Marlie, Mayra, Elyana, Sedona, Natalee, Fatimah, Karis, Oriana, Pippa, Toni, Star, Mariel, Linden, Hayes, Keely, Melinda, Inayah, Tova, Illiana, Ivanka, Janeth, Sianna, Haniya, Ezri, Anvika, Berklee, Marlei, Charis, Kayli, Mayar, MelodiMiles, Nathan, Ryan, Jesse, Hayes, Holden, Pedro, Isaias, Kieran, Roy, Danny, Albert, Alvin, Robin, Brendan, Brecken, Harold, Dangelo, Ezrah, Ignacio, Kolt, Teddy, Oakland, Archibald, German, Indigo, Oaklen, Clint, Linden, Jakhari, Shiv, Zacari, Donte, Jaron, Fredy, Fenix, Nyjah, Daxon, Finnan, Coast, Rune, Brigham, Marko, Harlen, Keandre, Selim, Harland, Kamran, Aiyden, Abelardo, Jaycen, Mykah, Daquan, Jeter, Branden, Hillel, Wayde, Hashim

4 via 67

The letters in the following baby names add up to 67, which reduces to four (6+7=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 67)Boy names (4 via 67)
Gabriella, Ruth, Michelle, Lyric, Aurelia, Paislee, Kaliyah, Zoya, Jessie, Brylee, Maisy, Kimora, Lyanna, Cordelia, Jillian, Jaelyn, Honey, Valencia, Angeline, Tillie, Isadora, Sybil, Ester, Suri, Zhavia, Italy, Evelin, Charly, Jules, Catarina, Delylah, Anayeli, Zayna, Manuela, Karly, Jaylen, Azura, Tracy, Jensen, Gretel, Sahasra, Elvira, Jinora, Bradley, Timber, Kyndal, Jamiyah, Aubriana, EliyanaJulian, Dominic, Miguel, Jensen, Jaylen, Bradley, Marcelo, Julio, Lionel, Rayden, Carmelo, Brycen, Zamir, Kylen, Cullen, Lyric, Zayan, Jessie, Caysen, Maddux, Monte, Elvis, Pharaoh, Oziel, West, Finnian, Carver, Percy, Jules, Yazan, Riyan, Ishmael, Maykel, Urijah, Ayven, Zakaria, Marlin, Maxon, Syre, Yechiel, Kyland, Manny, Jeziel, Soul, Kylar, Timber, Andrey, Kevon, Pryce, Rahmir, Ezrael, Finlay, Charly, Cyril, Neftali, Zhaire

4 via 76

The letters in the following baby names add up to 76, which reduces to four (7+6=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 76)Boy names (4 via 76)
Rory, Lorelei, Emory, Kinley, Zendaya, Kataleya, Hayley, Georgina, Nyomi, Winona, Emmeline, Ansley, Kathleen, Addisyn, Taliyah, Evaluna, Sidney, Martina, Eliette, Pepper, Theresa, Samiyah, Amberly, Skylah, Arlett, Nariyah, Dawson, Naylani, Jailyne, Starr, Everlie, Keylin, Shreya, Wynn, Zaniya, Juanita, Vianey, Raniyah, AnnamarieThomas, Emmett, Dawson, Jeremy, Louis, Rory, Sylas, Dexter, Nixon, Alonso, Jerry, Nathanael, Emory, Mordechai, Kruz, Jethro, Torin, Sidney, Kymir, Woods, Neymar, Gurbaaz, Khyrie, Tylen, Wynn, Yusef, Herbert, Waylan, Kolsen, Royale, Jacques, Adonnis, Keyler, Welles

4 via 85

The letters in the following baby names add up to 85, which reduces to four (8+5=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 85)Boy names (4 via 85)
Anastasia, Gracelyn, Brinley, Ainsley, Sevyn, Madisyn, Aubrielle, Artemis, Paityn, Ripley, Margaux, Rayleigh, Finnley, Shoshana, Tinley, Rivky, Storm, Yamilet, Shannon, Julieth, Karoline, Alitzel, Hillary, Rosabella, Lively, Vesper, Mallorie, RyleySteven, Kayson, Franklin, Donovan, Finnley, Boston, Sevyn, Jovanni, Ulises, Rowdy, Korbyn, Lucius, Zackary, Kyzer, Octavio, Rodolfo, Kendrix, Wolfgang, Storm, Xavion, Artemis, Devonte, Ripley, Tymir, Myron, Gryffin, Theodor, Broderick, Hyrum, Octavian, Kipton, Hawkins, Omarion, Raylon, Ryley, Shannon

4 via 94

The letters in the following baby names add up to 94, which reduces to four (9+4=13; 1+3=4).

Girl names (4 via 94)Boy names (4 via 94)
Willow, Genevieve, Harmony, Evangeline, Alessandra, Antonella, Stormi, Elowyn, Lakelynn, Emberlyn, Kinsleigh, Bernadette, Milagros, Constance, Madisson, Josette, Everest, Aislynn, Lourdes, Jaqueline, RosaleighBraxton, Everest, Dutton, Jaxtyn, Jiovanni, Brayson, Reynaldo, Sebastien, Trevon, Alexandro, Tayson, Gregorio, Suleiman, Santhiago, Riyansh

4 via 103

The letters in the following baby names add up to 103, which reduces to four (1+0+3=13).

Girl names (4 via 103)Boy names (4 via 103)
Scarlette, Princess, Roslyn, Valkyrie, Merritt, Nicolette, Rosemarie, Violett, Quinley, JustyceGreyson, Solomon, Yisroel, Zeppelin, Jettson, Perseus, Marquise, Maziyon, Merritt, Younis, Tiberius, Everhett, Yitzchak, Jaxston, Trevion, Nicodemus

4 via 112

The letters in the following baby names add up to 112, which reduces to four (1+1+2=4).

Girl names (4 via 112)Boy names (4 via 112)
Brooklyn, Emmersyn, Divinity, Weslynn, VictoryStetson, Valentino, Houston, Guillermo, Zayvion, Augustin, Brooklyn, Ollivander

4 via 121

The letters in the following baby names add up to 121, which reduces to four (1+2+1=4).

Girl names (4 via 121)Boy names (4 via 121)
Persephone, Courtney, Tiaraoluwa, Luxury, KierstynMorrison, Courtney, Kristofer, Christofer, Quintus

Number 4: Significance and associations

What does the number four mean in numerology?

There’s no definitive answer, unfortunately, because various numerological systems exist, and each one has its own interpretation of the number four. That said, if we look at a couple of modern numerology/astrology websites, we see 4 being described as “hardworking,” “practical,” “stable,” “trustworthy,” and “detail-oriented.”

We can also look at associations, which are a bit more concrete. Here are some things that are associated with the number 4:

  • Seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
  • Cardinal directions (north, south, east, west)
  • States of matter (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
  • Original Greek classical elements (water, earth, air, fire)
  • Moon phases (new, half-moon waxing, full, half-moon waning)
  • Suits of playing cards (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades)
  • Suits of tarot cards (cups, coins, wands, swords)
  • Limbs (2 arms and 2 legs)
  • Baseball (4 bases)
  • Violin (4 strings)
  • Common time in music (4 beats per measure)
  • Arithmetic (4 basic operations)
  • Furniture (most furniture has four legs)

What does the number 4 mean to you? What are your strongest associations with the number?

P.S. To see names with other numerological values, check out the posts for the numbers one, two, three, five, six, seven, eight, and nine.

Sources: SSA, Numerology – Cafe Astrology, The meaning of the numbers 1 – 9 – World Numerology, 4 – Wikipedia

[Latest update: Jan. 2024]

Popular Maori baby names in New Zealand, 2015

Flag of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand

According to the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs and the Maori Language Commission (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori), the country’s most popular Maori names during the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015 were Maia and Nikau.

Here are the top 10 Maori girl names and boy names of 2014/2015:

Girl NamesBoy Names
1. Maia
2. Manaia
3. Anahera
4. Ana
5. Aroha
6. Kaia
7. Hana
8. Ataahua
9. Tia
10. Kora
1. Nikau
2. Ari
3. Manaia
4. Wiremu
5. Kauri
6. Mikaere
7. Rawiri
8. Ihaia
9. Kai
10. Manaaki

The top 10 lists above are fairly different from the Maori baby name rankings of 2013. (I don’t believe a 2014 list was released.)

One confusing difference is the absence of Aria and Ariana. Were they reclassified as non-Maori? Otherwise, Aria and Ariana should have come in first and third on this list, given how popular they’ve been in New Zealand overall lately.

Also confusing is the fact that the rankings don’t refer to corresponding periods of time. The 2013 list covers April 2012 to March 2013, whereas the 2015 list covers July 2014 to June 2015.

Maia and Nikau weren’t among New Zealand’s top ten baby names of 2015, but they did appear in the top 100: Maia was ranked 34th for girls, Nikau 97th for boys.

Source: Most popular Maori baby names in 2015

Image: Adapted from Flag of New Zealand (public domain)

Popular Maori baby names in New Zealand, 2013

Flag of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand

New Zealand’s top Maori baby names of 2013 were announced last month.

According to the Department of Internal Affairs and the Maori Language Commission (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori), the country’s most popular Maori names of 2013* were Aria and Nikau.

Here are the top 20 Maori girl names and Maori boy names of 2013:

Girl NamesBoy Names
1. Aria
2. Maia
3. Ariana
4. Anahera
5. Anika
6. Aroha
7. Kora
8. Tia
9. Kaia
10. Ana
11. Ria
12. Tiare
13. Mereana
14. Nia
15. Tui
16. Wikitoria
17. Hinewai
18. Mahi
19. Terina
20. Mareikura
1. Nikau
2. Ari
3. Wiremu
4. Niko
5. Tamati
6. Hemi
7. Nikora
8. Te Ariki
9. Rawiri
10. Tane
11. Mikaere
12. Manaia
13. Kahu
14. Tangaroa
15. Kauri
16. Ariki
17. Manaaki
18. Tama
19. Ihaia
20. Matiu

This is the second-ever official list of popular Maori names, and it’s very different from the first list (2012). Notably, half of the girl names and nearly half of the boy names above are brand new. Two of the newbie boy names, Ari and Niko, now rank 2nd and 4th respectively.

The only Maori name on the list of popular baby names in New Zealand (top 25 of 2013) is Aria, ranked 24th.

*Actually, they’re the top Maori names given during the “2012-2013 financial year,” so, between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013.

Source: Maori Language Week: Top Maori boys’ and girls’ names

Image: Adapted from Flag of New Zealand (public domain)