Dylan vs Kaia
Dylan and Kaiacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2007, Dylan was ranked #19 and Kaia #4333 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #790 and Kaia #244 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #1743 and Kaia #283 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Dylan was ranked #655 and Kaia #490 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Dylan and Kaia over time
Dylan and Kaia appear together in 1 published list, across 26 years of shared records. Kaia held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Dylan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Dylan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Kaia in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kaia in 25.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1454 in 2021, Kaia #283 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #1743, Kaia #283.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Dylan | Kaia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #70 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Kaia does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kaia.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Kaia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Kaia
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #368 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2018–2023
Highest recorded position: #46 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2018–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #70 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls