Kaja is the Estonian word for "echo, reflection" — also the Scandinavian short form of Katarina (Catherine, "pure"). Kaja Kallas (born 1977) — *Estonian politician; Prime Minister of Estonia from January 2021 to July 2024 — the first woman to hold the office, leading Estonia's response to Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine; described in 2022 by Politico as "Europe's most hawkish leader on Russia". From December 2024, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission — the EU's chief diplomat, succeeding Josep Borrell. Daughter of Siim Kallas (Estonian PM 2002-2003 and EU Commissioner) — making her one of the first daughters of a European prime minister to herself become PM. Reform Party leader 2018-2024. Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought nominee (2022 for her Ukraine response)*.
Featured throughout 2020s European politics.
Kaja reduces to one — the number of Estonian echo.