Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Kaya or Katya

38 replies

caitlinrose · 31/10/2022 13:08

Which one do you prefer and why?

Kaya is one of my husband's favourites. We took it off our list because it received a lot of "it's chavvy" comments here which confused me because Kaia didn't get nearly as many of such comments. We just don't want to make her life more difficult. But DH really loves it and it has been growing on me a bit more as well. Is it really that bad and does it matter whether it's spelled Kaya or Kaia (or Kaja which is Scandinavian)? We pronouced them all ky-ah and I always thought it was the standard even though I guess you could say kay-ah for Kaya.

Then I stumbled across Katya in a book and thought it was nice as well. Is it more classic? It feels more grown up to me but a bit less fun and youthful.

I guess they are both pretty international which is nice. I recently heard of a Japanese actress called Kaya.

Thanks for your thoughts.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
mileaminnie · 01/11/2022 16:04

I know a Kiya and a Kiyah.

I always thought Kiya was such a pretty name !

GlassDeli · 01/11/2022 07:41

I like Katya.

RaininSummer · 01/11/2022 07:38

Katya as I find Kaya awkward to say.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 01/11/2022 07:32

DivorcedAndDelighted · 31/10/2022 18:00

Katya - it is classy, timeless, works in many countries and cultures and pronunciation is straightforward.
Kaya isn't a name I've ever heard of & I would always be wondering how to pronounce it.

I have a Katya. I love her name and have no regrets, however in the UK pronunciation is not straightforward. In the UK it tends to be pronounced with three syllables whereas in Russia/Eastern Europe/Germany it's pronounced with two syllables.

Breezycheesetrees · 01/11/2022 07:28

Kaya means cannabis doesn't it - that's what the Bob Marley song is about?

Orphlids · 01/11/2022 07:25

*Zhivago, sorry!

Orphlids · 01/11/2022 07:25

I love Katya. So elegant, with a slightly sharp edge to it which I like. I went to school with a Katya, and all the kids pronounced it Kat-eee-ah. I remember being astonished when I first saw it written down and realised it was just two syllables. Lara’s daughter in Dr Zhuvago was a Katya, I think. Really beautiful name.

What about Gaia instead of Kaya? Almost the same name, but Gaia would avoid the unpleasant disapproval from the snobs because it’s dead posh. We almost chose Gaia for our DD, and a bit of me does regret not using it.

VenusClapTrap · 01/11/2022 02:53

I really like Katya. Very elegant.

EstellaRijnveld · 01/11/2022 01:46

I love Katya and Katerina rather than Kaya.

Luredbyapomegranate · 31/10/2022 23:25

katya is nice

Kaya is a bit naff - which I would say about Kaia, just because she’s a celeb kid model. Also it will get said Kay-uh which it seems you don’t want.

TheHauntedPencilCase · 31/10/2022 20:44

I like Kaya but in our country it is a last name meaning rock and I've never heard of it used elsewhere so this thread has been nice! I pronounce it Ky-a so also didn't realise it could be interpreted as Kay-a here but no one ever seems to say it that way to us so I wouldn't be too worried about that tbh.

OooooSweetVampireOMine · 31/10/2022 19:48

Katya is lovely

OooooSweetVampireOMine · 31/10/2022 19:47

Are you or DH Scandinavian op?

lljkk · 31/10/2022 19:35

MN name "chav" prejudices about names can feck off to feckity feck.

And yes I like lots of "made up" names, too.
Even though my own DC all have names like Amy or Mark.
Having to explain pronunciation is a faff, but honestly it happens with lots of conventional names, too, so shouldn't be a deal-breaker.
You wouldn't believe how many ways there are to spell Aimee...

I went to school with a Katya, born 1968, & that's nice, too.

Kite22 · 31/10/2022 19:31

I would read Kaya as Kay-ah too, and agree with pp who said if you want it pronounce with an "eye" sound you would need to spell it Kya.

I mean, I'm not keen either way, but that is obviously down to personal taste.

I prefer Katya out of the two, but if I saw / heard that name, I would assume there were an interesting heritage which I would probably ask about at some point - which gets waring if there isn't.

Thisisnotmyname2 · 31/10/2022 19:08

I agree Katya is odd if both parents are British but it's a nice name.

Kaya is ok, I went to school with a Maya (could also be spelled Maia) and never thought it was chavvy.

Foxtrot101 · 31/10/2022 18:42

I used to work with a Swedish Katya, I think it's nice but a very different feel at Kaya/Kaia - both of which I was pronouncing Kay-a until I reached the part where you said you pronounce it Ky-ah.
I guess it's the same with Maya some people say May-a others My-ah, hard to avoid but once corrected people usually get it.
I don't see it is being a chavvy name at all and I definitely don't think you would be making life hard for your DD with either name choice. You should go with the name you love.

Derrymum123 · 31/10/2022 18:14

Katya sounds nicer to me. Has a Polish/Eastern European to me. Lovely classy name.

DivorcedAndDelighted · 31/10/2022 18:00

Katya - it is classy, timeless, works in many countries and cultures and pronunciation is straightforward.
Kaya isn't a name I've ever heard of & I would always be wondering how to pronounce it.

Penguinsaregreat · 31/10/2022 17:47

I’d pronounce Kaya as Kay-a
I prefer Katya.

SkylightSkylight · 31/10/2022 15:44

I think no matter which spelling you use, it will be said 100 different way, people can mangle anything!!

I prefer Katya, but on meeting a little Katya, I'd expect at least one of her parents to be from Poland, Romania etc. I'd find it odd if you were both from Hull 😂 but it doesn't really matter!

I'm glad you've closed down Kya.

maybe you should consider Jane?!

sopeas · 31/10/2022 15:37

Katya is much nicer. Kay a Ky ah Mi a My a too many of these names around all blending into one

PeekAtYou · 31/10/2022 14:48

I would say Ka-ya rather than Kay-a
I think that K names are generally unpopular here unless it's a "timeless name" like Kate or Kit.
Personally I like both of the names but Kaya has the edge. I think the Kaia spelling looks better but I can't explain why.

dream28 · 31/10/2022 14:43

they are both lovely names.

dream28 · 31/10/2022 14:43

I prefer Katya, but also love Kaia spelling.