An uncommon Native American pick — distinctive and rare.
Kya is a girl's and boy's baby name with disputed roots, likely rooted in Native American or African-American coinage, sometimes associated with meanings like 'diamond in the sky' or simply a melodic invention.
The name gained significant cultural attention after Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens became a global phenomenon, with its fierce, nature-loving protagonist Kya Clark giving the name a fierce and poetic identity. Short, striking, and unforgettable.
Kya was #706 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1083, but its charm endures.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,044 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,785 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 2,629 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 569 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 105 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 53 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 228 | #1083 |
| 2023 | 338 | #820 |
| 2022 | 182 | #1299 |
| 2021 | 140 | #1510 |
| 2020 | 156 | #1404 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1591 |
| 2018 | 143 | #1525 |
| 2017 | 173 | #1344 |
| 2016 | 205 | #1209 |
| 2015 | 161 | #1435 |
| 2014 | 180 | #1315 |
| 2013 | 175 | #1336 |
| 2012 | 195 | #1246 |
| 2011 | 192 | #1246 |
| 2010 | 227 | #1098 |
| 2009 | 204 | #1223 |
| 2008 | 233 | #1110 |
| 2007 | 266 | #1000 |
| 2006 | 282 | #933 |
| 2005 | 285 | #887 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Kya has also been given to 13 boys in the U.S. since 2001.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1970–2024) · Methodology