Kaya

♂ Boy

Pronounced KY-ah /ˈkaɪ.ɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Turkish kaya, 'a rock, a cliff' (a symbol of strength); also Hopi, 'an elder sister/a restful place'; here for boys; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A solid rock: Kaya is Turkish for 'a rock, a cliff'. Strong, soft, and warm. Used for both sexes.

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Origin MediumTurkish, Hopi

MeaningFrom Turkish kaya, 'a rock, a cliff' (a symbol of strength); also Hopi, 'an elder sister/a restful place'; here for boys; routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#5323 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births18 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 647

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

Kaya comes from Turkish kaya, 'a rock, a cliff' (a symbol of strength, steadfastness, and endurance), and also from Hopi, 'an elder sister; a restful place' (routes layered, which we note). A strong yet soft, cross-cultural name, used for both sexes, here for boys (said 'KY-ah').

In the U.S. it appears in Turkish and other families. Rare, a-rock at the root, and strong.

Did you know? Kaya means 'a rock, a cliff' in Turkish (a symbol of strength and steadfastness) — and 'an elder sister; a restful place' in Hopi — a strong yet soft name, used for both sexes (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'KY-ah').

Overall data confidence 58%

References — Kaya — routes layered

Variations

KayahKaia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kaya…

Kaan— a companion Turkish boys' name

Arda— another Turkish boys' name

Deniz— a fellow Turkish nature name

Kerem— another Turkish name

Kadin— shares Kaya's Turkish roots

Explore names like Kaya

By themeuncertain unisex turkish hopi

By meaningStrength Rock / Stone

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kaya mean?

Kaya is Turkish for 'a rock, a cliff', and Hopi for 'an elder sister; a restful place'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Kaya?

It's said KY-ah /ˈkaɪ.ɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kaya a boy or girl name?

Kaya is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Kaya?

Kaya is a rare name in the U.S.