Total births
2,656
Boys' name · since 1975
Kainoa
Since 1975, U.S. Social Security records show 2,656 babies named Kainoa, peaking in 2016. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1696
- among boys today
- 2,656
- born since 1975
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 88%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Kainoa is the #1696 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 2,656 recorded since 1975.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kainoa has been recorded 2,656 times among boys since 1975, currently ranked #1696 nationally and more common than 88% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1975 to 2025.
- #1696 among boys today
- 2,656 born since 1975
- 2010s peak decade
- 88% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Kainoa is currently the #1696 boys' name in America, more common than 88% of boys - 2,656 born since 1975, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1696
- among boys today
- 2,656
- born since 1975
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 88%
- more common than other boys
Kainoa vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1696
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 88% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Kainoa was born in this single decade.
2016
Single peak year
105 babies were named Kainoa in 2016 - its busiest year on record.
How Kainoa compares
2,656 Top 18% higher than 82% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Kainoa's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kainoa | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,656 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 105 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kainoa's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kainoa's SSA record in two at 2001 and the more recent half accounts for 79% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 21%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1975, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 2016 peak of 105, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kainoa at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2016
Current rank
#1,696
Active since
1975
Kainoa popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1975–2025
- Peak year (2016)
- 105
- Annual births at peak, across 51 years of records
Kainoa popularity over time - girls
40 total births recorded since 1980 (Kainoa as girls' name)
Kainoa by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Kainoa's strongest decade.
877 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Kainoa births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 34
1970s
34 births
- 1980s 118
1980s
118 births
- 1990s 347
1990s
347 births
- 2000s
2000s
748 births
- 2010s
2010s
877 births
- 2020s
2020s
532 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 877 births (33% of all-time use).
How Kainoa compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Kainoa's total volume
Kainoa vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kainoa by state
Where Kainoa concentrates geographically, total births since 1975
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | | 845 | 31.8% |
| #2 | California | | 661 | 24.9% |
| #3 | Washington | | 157 | 5.9% |
| #4 | Texas | | 48 | 1.8% |
| #5 | Oregon | | 39 | 1.5% |
| #6 | Nevada | | 34 | 1.3% |
| #7 | Arizona | | 21 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Colorado | | 16 | 0.6% |
Hawaii share of Kainoa's total US births 31.8%
Even split
845 of 2,656 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 11 reporting states.
Kainoa appears in 11 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kainoa? ▼
2,656 babies have been named Kainoa since 1975. It currently ranks #1696 among boys. The peak year was 2016 with 105 births.
When was Kainoa most popular? ▼
Kainoa was most popular in the 2010s decade with 877 total births. The single peak year was 2016.
Where is Kainoa most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kainoa are Hawaii (845 births), California (661 births), Washington (157 births).
How long has the name Kainoa been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Kainoa since 1975 -- 51 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Kainoa? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kai, Kaiden, Kairo, Kaison, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kainoa's data
- Kainoa's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (877 total births) through the 2020s (532) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Hawaii records the most Kainoas (845 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Hawaii names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kainoa
Nearby Names Like Kainoa
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kainoa
Kai Boy
#76 70,232 births
Kaiden Boy
#208 52,562 births
Kairo Boy
#238 11,224 births
Kaison Boy
#515 7,182 births
Kaiser Boy
#801 3,921 births
Compare Kainoa side by side: Kainoa vs Kai Kainoa vs Kaiden Kainoa vs Kairo
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kainoa
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1975–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kainoa: #1696 Boys' Name - 2,656 Births, Peak 2016." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kainoa. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kainoa draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.