Kao: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	122	242	364	36	–	#1,530
1990s	116	145	261	26	-28%	#2,335
2000s	6	16	22	2	-92%	#11,667
2010s	–	54	54	5	+145%	#7,925
2020s (to 2025)	–	18	18	3	-44%	#9,304

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

122

242

364

–

#1,530

1990s

116

145

261

-28%

#2,335

2000s

-92%

#11,667

2010s

–

+145%

#7,925

2020s (to 2025)

–

-44%

#9,304

The story of Kao

Kao is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,304 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1980, 719 American babies have been named Kao, about 66% boys and 34% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1981, when 54 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kao stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Kao?

The median living Kao is about 36 years old; half are between 31 and 41. An estimated 700 people named Kao are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Kao year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	8	#9,304
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	5	#13,194
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	5	#13,077
2019	–	–	10	#7,925
2018	–	–	9	#8,501
2017	–	–	8	#9,283
2016	–	–	5	#13,214
2015	–	–	9	#8,382
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	7	#10,259
2011	–	–	6	#11,567
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	6	#11,667
2006	–	–	5	#13,028
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	5	#12,301
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	6	#14,007	–	–
1995	15	#6,100	15	#4,166
1990	17	#5,393	19	#3,241
1985	13	#5,496	14	#3,304
1980	9	#7,053	23	#2,245
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Kao, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Kao?

The median living Kao is about 36 years old. Half of all living Kaos are between 31 and 41 years old.

How many people named Kao are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Kao are alive in the United States, based on 719 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Kao in 2025?

Kao ranked #9,304 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Kao?

719 babies have been named Kao in the United States since 1980, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kao most popular?

Kao peaked in 1981, when 54 newborns received the name.

Is Kao a boy or girl name?

Kao is used for both: about 34% of babies named Kao have been girls and 66% boys.

Is the name Kao rising or falling?

Kao is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Kao

Kao popularity over time

The story of Kao

How old are people named Kao?

Kao year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Kao