Of several origins.
A unisex name.
1) Of Native American origin.
A feminine name, meaning “she, who arranges rocks”. From the old name “Kaya’aton’my” used by the Niimiipu people, known as the Nez Perce Native American indigenous tribe. They lived, for more than 10.000 years, in what is now the Idaho, Washington, and Oregon regions.
2) Of Hopi Native American origin.
A feminine name, meaning “elder sister”. From the old name “Kakahoya”, used by the Hopi tribe. They lived in several regions, such as Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
3) Of Japanese origin. A feminine name. From Japanese character/symbol 華 (Ka), meaning “flower”, “petal”, “splendor” and 也 (Ya), meaning “to be”.
4) Of Turkish origin. A masculine name, meaning “rock”.
5) Of African origin. Several African tribes use the word “kaya”. In Zulu it means “home” or “dwelling”. In Kenya “kaya” is a highly spiritual notion, referring to the sacred forest of the several “Miijiikenda” Kenyan tribes. A place for prayer, a ritual and cultural center, and a power source as well.
Kaya is ranked #961 in the 2016 U.S.A. Social Security Administration popularity list for feminine names. It has never entered the popularity lists of male baby names.
A famous bearer is English actress Kaya Scodelario.