Kaelia
A unique feminine name possibly derived from Greek meaning "beautiful".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kaelia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kaelia today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kaelia births was 1996 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kaelia. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kaelia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1996
5 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
1996 SSA rank
#14,540
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Kaelia: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaelia 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 Kaelia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kaelia
The given name Kaelia has its origins in ancient Greece, where it was derived from the Greek word "kalos," meaning beautiful or fair. The name was often bestowed upon female children in the hopes that they would grow into women of great beauty and grace.
During the classical period of Greek civilization, the name Kaelia was relatively uncommon but held a certain degree of prestige. It can be found inscribed on a few ancient pottery fragments and stone tablets, indicating that it was used by families of some means and status.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaelia appears in a play by the renowned Greek playwright Aristophanes. In his comedy "The Frogs," written in 405 BC, one of the minor characters bears the name Kaelia, though little is known about her role or significance.
As the Greek culture spread throughout the Mediterranean region, the name Kaelia also gained a foothold in other parts of the ancient world. In the 1st century AD, a Roman noble woman named Kaelia Tertia was mentioned in historical records as a patron of the arts and a supporter of various philosophical schools.
During the Byzantine era, the name experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the aristocratic families of Constantinople. One noteworthy figure from this period was Kaelia Kantakouzene, a princess of the Kantakouzenos dynasty who lived in the 14th century and was known for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the Orthodox Church.
In the Middle Ages, the name Kaelia was relatively uncommon in Western Europe but found some use in the Eastern Orthodox regions of the Balkans and Russia. A notable bearer of the name was Kaelia of Novgorod, a 12th-century noblewoman who was renowned for her skill in embroidery and her support of the local monasteries.
As the Renaissance dawned, the name Kaelia experienced a modest revival in certain parts of Europe, particularly in Italy and Greece. One notable figure from this period was Kaelia Grimani, a 16th-century Venetian noblewoman and patron of the arts, who was known for her support of the renowned painter Titian.
Throughout history, the name Kaelia has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and members of the nobility. While it has never been among the most popular names, it has maintained a certain degree of distinction and has been carried on through the centuries, reflecting its ancient Greek roots and associations with beauty and grace.
People
Kaelia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kaelia 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
Kaelia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kaelia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kaelia 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kaelia a common name?
We classify Kaelia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kaelia most popular?
The single biggest year for Kaelia was 1996, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kaelia is about 29 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 Kaelia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kaelia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kaelia 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 Kaelia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kaelia 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 Kaelia 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 many people are named Kaelia?
Want to know how many people share the name Kaelia? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.