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I would pronounce it Kai-a. I prefer it spelled Kiah (same pronunciation).

I love it, too. I pronounce it Kai-a, Kay-a sounds so American and mispronounced.

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I think it's a form of Gaia, meaning (Mother) Earth.

Never seen it used as a name. No doubt because where I live, it's a dictionary word meaning 'house', and it used to be used for the kind of outdoor long-drop toilet that was installed in its own little outhouse, well away from the farmhouse. Not any more, I don't think - and anyway it was shortened to PK, standing for picannini kaia or little house. But it's not a dainty or a fragrant connotation.

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Here, it sounds like KIE a, with the IE as in Simon. And Kai in German has the same sound.

One of my good friend's 2 year old daughter is named Kaia. Like mirfak said, it rhymes with Gaia, or at least how she pronounces it. I never heard of it before my friend and even though I heard her say her daughter's name I was always unsure how to say it when I first met her.

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I like it though. Not really my style, but I think it's cute on other people's kids.

I'd say KY-ah. I think it's adorable, but much prefer it as a nickname. As a given name it's kind of cutesy and insubstantial IMO.

I'd say it KAI-a. And, you know what, I love it too. I never really realized how cool it is! I had a physiotherapist by the name two years ago and I thought it was neat. But I never really thought of it after that. Thanks for reminding me.

I say KYE-uh. I had a friend when I was a teenager who went by Kia, pronounced the same (her real name was Giovanna, which she hated. I don't know how she got Kia).

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I'm quite fond of the name. I like the sound, and think the "aia" is pleasing to the eyes.

I like it alright. Rhyme Gaia, long "eye" sound. It seems hippie (maybe because it reminds me of Gaia) and breezy to me and is very lightweight. Reminds me of Kai, with a Hawaiian vibe. Also feels like Skye, Kira, Sienna, Kylee, Kara ... I feel like: who cares what it means, the pleasant breezy sound is the whole point. Just say it's Kai (the sea) plus -a. Good enough, and people will probably find it believable.

I know several people who've named their daughters Kaia because they think it means "marijuana" or something.
I say and have only ever heard Kai-ya

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I don't care for it.

This message was edited 7/28/2014, 4:29 PM

Kaia is beautiful! I say kai-uh. :)

I say, "KIE-uh." It's lovely. :0)

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Behindthename.com is the best researched site that I've found. So I would take the information in this database as the final word.