Boy name
Kays name meaning
“measuring; measure and comparison”
Kays means “measuring, measure, and comparison.” It comes from Arabic Qays, associated with the root for measuring and comparing, and is used for boys in Türkiye. Its best-known literary association is Qays, the original name of Majnun in the story of Layla and Majnun.
What does Kays mean?
Measuring; measure and comparison
In Turkish: ölçme; ölçü ve kıyas
Kays is known as Majnun's personal name in the story of Layla and Majnun. This literary connection gives it a strong association with love beyond its root meaning of measurement. Companions such as Qays ibn Sa'd also attest the name's use in early Islamic history.
Origin of the name Kays
It comes from Arabic Qays, associated with the root q-y-s, measuring or comparing. The old personal name should not be equated with every later sense of the related word kıyas.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Turkic history and myth | Names from Turkic epics |
| Is Kays in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | K · Ka |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
How to pronounce Kays
| Syllables | 1 · 4 letters · 4-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /kajs/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | قیس |
| Arabic | قيس |
Is Kays a boy’s name?
Yes, Kays is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Kays does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Kays
FAQ about the name Kays
What is the meaning of Kays?
Kays means “measuring; measure and comparison”. It comes from Arabic Qays, associated with the root q-y-s, measuring or comparing. The old personal name should not be equated with every later sense of the related word kıyas.
Is Kays a boy’s name?
Yes, Kays is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Kays in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Kays nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Kays?
Kays is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Kays have?
Kays has 1 syllable and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Kays?
Kays does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm03582 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake