Kaede

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAH-eh-deh /ˈkɑː.ɛ.deɪ/Medium

Meaning: From the Japanese kaede, 'maple' or 'maple leaf.' Depending on the kanji chosen, the same sound can also carry other meanings, so the exact reading varies by family; the maple sense is the most common in everyday use.Low

In 30 seconds: A nature name from Japan: Kaede means 'maple' or 'maple leaf' (said 'KAH-eh-deh'). Simple, seasonal, and grounded.

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Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningFrom the Japanese kaede, 'maple' or 'maple leaf.' Depending on the kanji chosen, the same sound can also carry other meanings, so the exact reading varies by family; the maple sense is the most common in everyday use.

U.S. rank (2023)#8697 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births12 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 242

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kaede is Japanese for 'maple' or 'maple leaf,' a nature name tied to the tree's famous autumn color. It's a genuinely unisex name in Japan, written with different kanji that can shade the meaning slightly. In the U.S. it appears only rarely, mostly among Japanese-heritage families (said 'KAH-eh-deh').

It appears only very rarely in 2025 U.S. birth data, at the deepest tail of the list. Rare, seasonal, and quietly grounded.

Did you know? Kaede is the everyday Japanese word for 'maple' or 'maple leaf' -- the same tree whose turning color marks autumn across Japan -- and it's used as a given name for boys and girls alike, with the exact meaning shifting slightly by the kanji a family chooses (said 'KAH-eh-deh').

Overall data confidence 50%

References -- Kaede — Japanese 'maple/maple leaf'; kanji-dependent, unisex use

Variations

KaedaKaideKayde

Nicknames

KaeEdie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kaede…

Sakura— a like Japanese nature name (cherry blossom)

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Yui— a like soft Japanese given name

Mei— a like short, seasonal Japanese name

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By themeunisex short nature japanese

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kaede mean?

Kaede is Japanese for 'maple' or 'maple leaf'; the precise nuance can shift with the kanji a family chooses.

How do you pronounce Kaede?

It's said KAH-eh-deh /ˈkɑː.ɛ.deɪ/ -- three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kaede a boy or girl name?

Kaede is used for both boys and girls in Japan; here it's used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kaede?

Kaede is an extremely rare name for girls in the U.S.