Boy · #5,878 in 2026

Kaj

Kaj is a given name of unknown origin, particularly common in the Nordic countries, loaned from the Continent. It might be derived from Frisian Kaye (hen) or Latin Caius. In Denmark, Finland and Norway, the name is predominantly male, while in Sweden the name is unisex.

  • Danish
  • Swedish
  • Norwegian
  • Finnish
Current Rank
#5,878
Peak Rank
#4,517 (2006)
Total Babies
510
5-Yr Trend
-9%
1956
First Year
2024
Last Year
2006
Peak Year
#4517
Peak Rank
510
Total Count
50
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kaj

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kaj is a given name of unknown origin, particularly common in the Nordic countries, loaned from the Continent. It might be derived from Frisian Kaye (hen) or Latin Caius. In Denmark, Finland and Norway, the name is predominantly male, while in Sweden the name is unisex.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Danish
  • Swedish
  • Norwegian
  • Finnish

The Story of Kaj

Kaj first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1956, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2006, when 20 Kajs were born — ranking #4,517 that year. As of 2026, Kaj ranks #5,878 for baby boys with 15 births, gradually falling (-9%). In total, more than 510 Kajs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Kaj

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Kaj. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Kaj

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kaj is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kaj

What does the name Kaj mean?
Kaj is a given name of unknown origin, particularly common in the Nordic countries, loaned from the Continent. It might be derived from Frisian Kaye (hen) or Latin Caius. In Denmark, Finland and Norway, the name is predominantly male, while in Sweden the name is unisex.
What is the origin of the name Kaj?
Kaj has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish.
How popular is Kaj in 2026?
In 2026, Kaj ranks #5,878 among boys' names in the U.S., with 15 babies given the name that year.
When was Kaj most popular?
Kaj reached its peak popularity in 2006, ranking #4,517 that year with 20 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Kaj most popular?
Kaj has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Kaj.
Is Kaj a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kaj is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kaj?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kaj include Moroni, Tion, Zackaria. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Kaj?
Common variants and related forms of Kaj include Gerhard, Kai, Nicklas, Niclas, Nicolai, Niklas. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

Similar Names

👦
Moroni
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Tion
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👦
Zackaria
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Savier
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👦
Yann
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Ladarian
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Marbin
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Jaimen
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About the name Kaj

Kaj is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1956 and has accumulated 510 births in the dataset. Kaj's peak popularity came in 2006 when it ranked #4,517. Use the chart and map above to compare Kaj's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.