Kye
Kye is a common variant of the names Kai, Kay or Kyle. Kye also occurs, via numerous spellings, in many languages. For example, "sea" in Hawaiian, and "narrow" or "slender" in Celtic.
Meaning & Origin of Kye
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kye is a common variant of the names Kai, Kay or Kyle. Kye also occurs, via numerous spellings, in many languages. For example, "sea" in Hawaiian, and "narrow" or "slender" in Celtic.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kye
As a girl name
Kye first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1960, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 22 Kyes were born — ranking #5,661 that year. As of 2026, Kye ranks #15,243 for girls with 5 births, falling sharply (-28%). In total, more than 340 Kyes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Kye first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1956, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2016, when 356 Kyes were born — ranking #693 that year. As of 2026, Kye ranks #1,200 for boys with 171 births, falling sharply (-28%). In total, more than 6K Kyes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kye
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kye 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 Kye
What does the name Kye mean?
How popular is Kye in 2026?
When was Kye most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kye most popular?
Is Kye a unisex name?
What names go well with Kye?
About the name Kye
Kye is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1956 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Kye's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #693. Use the chart and map above to compare Kye's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2016 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.