Kalaia
A feminine name of Hawaiian origin meaning "the wreath".
Name Census estimates that about 121 living Americans carry the first name Kalaia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kalaia today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kalaia births was 2024 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kalaia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
121
~ 1 in 2,832,680 Americans
Peak year
2024
24 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,348
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Kalaia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kalaia from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 92 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kalaia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kalaia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kalaia
The name Kalaia originates from the Hawaiian language, with its roots dating back to the ancient Polynesian cultures of the Pacific islands. In Hawaiian, the name Kalaia is believed to be derived from the words "kala," meaning "forgiveness" or "pardon," and "ia," which can be interpreted as "that which is." Together, the name Kalaia carries a symbolic meaning of "that which is forgiven" or "one who is pardoned."
As an ancient Polynesian name, Kalaia was likely used by the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands long before the arrival of Western explorers and settlers. While its earliest documented use is uncertain, it is plausible that the name appeared in oral traditions, chants, and genealogical records passed down through generations of Hawaiian families.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kalaia was a Hawaiian chieftain who lived in the late 18th century on the island of Maui. While historical details about this individual are scarce, their existence provides evidence of the name's use during this period.
In the 19th century, a notable figure named Kalaia Kahili was a respected Hawaiian scholar and historian. Born in 1836, Kahili dedicated his life to preserving and documenting the traditional knowledge, customs, and genealogies of the Hawaiian people. His work played a significant role in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the islands.
Another notable individual with the name Kalaia was a Hawaiian artist and sculptor named Kalaia Kahapaloa, who lived from 1889 to 1967. Kahapaloa's intricate woodcarvings and sculptures depicting traditional Hawaiian motifs and legends earned him widespread recognition and admiration for his artistry and cultural preservation efforts.
In more recent times, Kalaia Kamahoahoa, a Hawaiian activist and community leader born in 1941, has been instrumental in advocating for indigenous rights and environmental protection in the Hawaiian Islands. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Hawai'i Community Foundation's Ho'okele Award for Civic Leadership.
While the name Kalaia may have ancient origins, it continues to be used by Hawaiian families today, carrying the cultural and symbolic significance of forgiveness and pardon. The individuals mentioned above represent just a few examples of the rich history and legacy associated with this meaningful name.
People
Kalaia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kalaia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kalaia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kalaia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 121 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kalaia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,832,680 US residents.
Is Kalaia a common name?
We classify Kalaia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 122 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kalaia most popular?
The single biggest year for Kalaia was 2024, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kalaia is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kalaia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kalaia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kalaia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kalaia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kalaia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kalaia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Kalaia?
See how many people share the name Kalaia on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.