Kea

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kea

Pronounced KAY-uh /ˈkeɪə/Medium

Meaning: Kea reads two ways: as a Hawaiian word meaning 'white' (as in Mauna Kea, 'white mountain'), or as a short form of names like Kiana or Keanna. An English speaker may say it KAY-uh or KEE-uh, so the audio is flagged. The routes are uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Kea is a Hawaiian word for 'white' or a short form of Kiana, its routes uncertain. It appeared faintly, peaked around 1978, and stayed uncommon (said KAY-uh).

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Origin LowHawaiian, English

MeaningKea reads two ways: as a Hawaiian word meaning 'white' (as in Mauna Kea, 'white mountain'), or as a short form of names like Kiana or Keanna. An English speaker may say it KAY-uh or KEE-uh, so the audio is flagged. The routes are uncertain, which we note.

U.S. rank (2022)#11717 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1978

Total births (all-time)≈ 653

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

Kea can be read as the Hawaiian word for 'white', found in place names like Mauna Kea, or as a short form of Kiana and similar names. Because the spelling can be sounded KAY-uh or KEE-uh, its route and even its stress are uncertain, which we note.

It stayed uncommon, only a few dozen girls a year at its high around 1978, with use lingering into the 2020s. It keeps company with Kiana, Leia and Nia.

Did you know? In Hawaiian, kea means 'white' — the very word in Mauna Kea, the 'white mountain' whose winter snows crown the Big Island.

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Kea — Hawaiian 'white' (Mauna Kea); or short for Kiana; routes uncertain

Variations

KeahiKianaKea

Nicknames

KeaKiki

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kea…

Kiana— a name Kea can shorten from

Leia— a like short vowel-bright island name

Nia— shares the brief two-beat sound

Kaia— a like modern KAY- girls' name

Explore names like Kea

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kea mean?

It reads as a Hawaiian word meaning 'white', or as a short form of Kiana; the routes are uncertain.

How do you pronounce Kea?

It's said KAY-uh /ˈkeɪə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kea a boy or girl name?

Kea is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kea?

Kea has always been an uncommon name in the U.S.