Kayshia
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a Native American language.
Name Census estimates that about 41 living Americans carry the first name Kayshia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kayshia today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kayshia births was 1985 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kayshia. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Kayshia with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kayshia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
41
~ 1 in 8,359,862 Americans
Peak year
1985
7 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2008 SSA rank
#19,006
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Kayshia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kayshia from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 24 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Kayshia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kayshia 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 Kayshia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kayshia
The name Kayshia is a unique and intriguing moniker with roots that can be traced back to various cultures and linguistic origins. Its etymology remains somewhat ambiguous, as it appears to be a modern invention or a creative fusion of elements from different languages.
One possible origin of the name Kayshia could be derived from the Sanskrit word "Kāya," which means "body" or "physical form." This connection suggests a spiritual or philosophical connotation, perhaps alluding to the idea of physical embodiment or the union of mind and body.
Another potential source of inspiration for the name Kayshia might be the Arabic name "Qaysha," which is a feminine variant of the name "Qays." This Arabic name has roots in the pre-Islamic era and is associated with the ancient tribe of Qays, known for their valor and poetry.
While the name Kayshia itself does not appear to have been recorded in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it may have been influenced by other similar-sounding names from various cultures. For instance, the name "Kaisha" is a variation of the Hebrew name "Keisha," meaning "beneficent" or "kind."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Kayshia are relatively modern, with the first mentions appearing in the late 20th century. However, there are a few notable individuals who have borne this name throughout history.
1. Kayshia Falu (born 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her fusion of jazz, soul, and Indian classical music.
2. Kayshia Monapathi (born 1995) is an Australian cricketer who has represented the Australian women's national cricket team.
3. Kayshia Boutelle (born 1989) is an American professional basketball player who has played in the WNBA and overseas.
4. Kayshia Degia (born 1991) is a former British track and field athlete who specialized in the 100 meters hurdles.
5. Kayshia Arnholt (born 1988) is an American artist and illustrator known for her vibrant and whimsical paintings and drawings.
While the name Kayshia may be a more contemporary creation, it carries a rich tapestry of potential meanings and cultural influences, making it a unique and intriguing choice for parents seeking a distinctive name for their child.
People
Kayshia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kayshia 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
Kayshia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kayshia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 41 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kayshia 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 8,359,862 US residents.
Is Kayshia a common name?
We classify Kayshia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 42 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kayshia most popular?
The single biggest year for Kayshia was 1985, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kayshia is about 30 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 Kayshia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kayshia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kayshia 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 Kayshia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kayshia 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 Kayshia 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 Americans are named Kayshia?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.