Fun Facts About the Name Kaija
- More than 1 thousand babies named Kaija: U.S. records list 1,028 babies given the name Kaija from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Kaija Mean?
Kaija is a Finnish and Estonian feminine given name. It is one of the shorter everyday forms of Katariina, the Finnish form of Catherine, a name that reached the Nordic countries through Swedish Katarina and, before that, Latin Catharina and Greek Aikaterine.
The customary meaning given to this whole family of names is "pure," based on an old association between the Greek name Aikaterine and the Greek word katharos, "pure." That association is a traditional interpretation rather than a secure etymology; the original sense of Aikaterine is not known. For Kaija itself, the meaning comes entirely from that parent name, since the short form adds no separate element of its own.
Kaija Name History & Origins
Kaija belongs to the Finnish name stock that grew out of the long saint's name Katariina, which spread with the veneration of Saint Catherine. In Finnish usage the long form produced a set of shorter, plainer everyday names, among them Kaarina, Kaisa, Katri, Kati, Riina and Kaija. Kaija is generally treated as an established variant of Katariina rather than an independent coinage, and it follows the same pattern as Scandinavian short forms such as Kaja.
Because Finnish and Estonian are closely related Finnic languages with a long shared naming tradition, the name is also used in Estonia, where related short forms such as Kaia and Kaie appear as well. The name remains in living use in Finland; the composer Kaija Saariaho (1952 - 2023) is one well-known bearer.
The Latvian noun kaija, meaning "gull," is spelled the same way but is a separate word and is not the source of the Finnish and Estonian name.
How Popular is the Name Kaija?
Kaija has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2002. Its best rank was #2,985 in 2001.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,663 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #6,484 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #4,925 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #8,766 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #8,704 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #6,186 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #5,094 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #6,371 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #6,661 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #4,299 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2015 | #7,113 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #6,845 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #8,340 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #8,006 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #6,711 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #4,793 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #5,152 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #4,587 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2007 | #3,821 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2006 | #5,303 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2005 | #4,065 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 2004 | #4,765 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #3,840 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2002 | #2,993 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2001 | #2,985 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 2000 | #4,024 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1999 | #3,920 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1998 | #3,256 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1997 | #3,753 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #4,113 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #4,417 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #4,603 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #4,451 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #6,456 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #5,522 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #7,555 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #5,670 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #6,448 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #9,232 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #11,731 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #8,726 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #7,707 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #11,002 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #6,566 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #7,719 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #9,012 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #7,894 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,895 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #6,166 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #5,762 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #8,873 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #7,250 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Kaija
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with K
Short Girl Names That Start with K
How the Name Kaija Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Kaija's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kaija's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.