Kainoa
Boy name · #1719 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
In 2025, 95 baby boys were named Kainoa, placing it at #1719 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1691, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,947 boys born in 2025 was named Kainoa.
The 50-year story
Kainoa first appears in the Social Security records in 1975, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 105 boys were named Kainoa — good for #1563 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Kainoa per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kainoa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kainoa in class?
Kainoa scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Kainoa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kainoa is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kainoas were CA (21), HI (14), WA (13), NV (7), OR (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kainoa
Statistically, parents drawn to Kainoa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kekoa, Nikola, Krishna, Klayton, and Zakaria.
KekoaNikolaKrishnaKlaytonZakariaKainKellerKolten
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kainoa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 95 | #1708 |
| 2024 | 99 | #1685 |
| 2023 | 101 | #1681 |
| 2022 | 75 | #2022 |
| 2021 | 82 | #1870 |
| 2020 | 80 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 93 | #1698 |
| 2018 | 86 | #1777 |
| 2017 | 92 | #1707 |
| 2016 | 105 | #1563 |
| 2015 | 92 | #1691 |
| 2014 | 88 | #1714 |
| 2013 | 84 | #1733 |
| 2012 | 84 | #1775 |
| 2011 | 77 | #1835 |
| 2010 | 76 | #1881 |
| 2009 | 74 | #1925 |
| 2008 | 84 | #1775 |
| 2007 | 76 | #1875 |
| 2006 | 80 | #1738 |
| 2005 | 90 | #1554 |
| 2004 | 79 | #1629 |
| 2003 | 81 | #1561 |
| 2002 | 67 | #1723 |
| 2001 | 55 | #1960 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kainoa a popular boy name?
Kainoa ranked #1719 among boys in 2025 with 95 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1691.
When was the name Kainoa most popular?
Kainoa peaked in 2016, when 105 American boys received the name (ranked #1563 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kainoa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,947 newborn American boys was named Kainoa. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.