Unisex name · Japanese
Kaede
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: mapleKaede is a gender-neutral name that comes from Japanese and means "maple". It is used in Japanese.
- Meaning
- Maple
- Origin
- Japanese
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #16014 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Kaede
As a gender-neutral name, Kaede comes from Japanese and means "maple". It is used in Japanese.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
How to write Kaede in Japanese
In hiragana, Kaede is かえで. Below is a kanji spelling used for the name, with what each kanji means. Parents can choose other kanji, and each choice gives the name its own meaning.
| Kanji | Reading | What the kanji mean |
|---|---|---|
| 楓 | かえで | 楓 maple |
Kanji and readings from the JMnedict and KANJIDIC2 dictionaries (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0), checked by our editors.
Kaede on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Kaede on 3 lists.
“楓: maple. Say kah-eh-deh”
From Anime girl names, anime girl names that mean flower
“Maple, famous for red autumn leaves; also used for boys.”
From Japanese girl names, japanese flower names for girls
“Maple (depends on kanji); Japanese 楓, for girls and boys”
From Nature names, tree and forest names
How popular is Kaede?
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #16,014
- 5 babies, 3 per million girls
- Best rank
- #7,138 in 2014
- Most babies: 17 in 2006
- Babies since 1997
- At least 248
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 1 per million |
| 2000s | 5 per million |
| 2010s | 6 per million |
| 2020s | 3 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,728 | #12,161 | #10,164 | #10,878 | #16,241 | #12,809 | – | #8,256 | – | #16,014 |
As a boy’s name
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #7,506 in 2023
- 11 babies that year
- Babies since 2003
- At least 70
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 0 per million |
| 2000s | 1 per million |
| 2010s | 1 per million |
| 2020s | 3 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | – | #13,223 | – | – | #10,058 | #10,241 | #13,275 | #7,506 | – | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Kaede
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- KaidenVariant of Caden, a modern name popular for its sound (English, boy)
- KaleFree man (Germanic, boy)
- KanadeTo play music (Japanese, unisex)
- KätheGerman pet form of Katharina, Katherine (Greek, girl)
- KaydenVariant of Caden; meaning unknown, popular for its -den sound (English, boy)
- KayodeHe brought joy (Yoruba, boy)
- KazueHarmony and blessing (Japanese, girl)
- KieleGardenia flower (Hawaiian, girl)
Middle names for Kaede
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Japanese
- AiLove; indigo (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- KaiSea (Japanese, boy)
- AikoBeloved child (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- AimiLove and beauty, written 愛美 (Japanese, girl)
- AkaneDeep red, madder (Japanese, girl)
- AkariLamplight (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- AkemiBright beauty (Japanese, girl)
- AkiSecond and hope, written 亜希 (Japanese, girl)
- AkihikoBright prince (depends on kanji) (Japanese, boy)
- AkihiroBright and wide (depends on characters) (Japanese, boy)
Kaede: common questions
What does the name Kaede mean?
Kaede comes from Japanese and means "maple".
Is Kaede a boy or girl name?
Kaede is used for both boys and girls.
Where does the name Kaede come from?
Kaede comes from Japanese and means "maple". Today it is used in Japanese.
How do you write Kaede in Japanese?
Kaede is written かえで in hiragana. Kanji spellings include 楓 (maple). The kanji parents choose decide what the name means.
How popular is the name Kaede?
Kaede ranked #16,014 in the US in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Kaede?
Names spelled like Kaede include Kaiden, Kale, Kanade, Käthe and Kayden.
What middle names go with Kaede?
Middle names that flow well with Kaede include Benedict, Clark, Harmony, Holly and Isaac. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.