Fun Facts About the Name Kai
- A newer favorite: Kai first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2019 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 7 consecutive years.
- More than 78 thousand babies named Kai: U.S. records list 78,654 babies given the name Kai from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 8,477 girls received the name Kai - about 1 girl for every 8 boys.
What Does the Name Kai Mean?
Kai is a short name that comes from several unrelated sources, so it carries more than one meaning. In Hawaiian, kai means "sea" or "sea water." In Chinese, the character 凯 (kǎi) means "triumphant" or "victory" and is a common element in given names; related characters such as 恺 ("joyful, kind") and 楷 ("model, pattern") are also read kǎi and used in names. In Japanese, Kai is written with kanji chosen by the family, such as 海 ("sea"), 界 ("world, boundary"), 魁 ("leader"), or 皆 ("all"), so the meaning depends on the characters selected.
German, Dutch, and Frisian use Kai, often spelled Kay, as a short form of other names. Its older source is not settled: one explanation traces it to the Latin personal name Gaius (also written Caius), while another treats it as a Frisian short form of a name beginning with a Gai- or Gei- element. Estonian and Finnish also use Kai, and in Estonian it is often a female name. The Hebrew name Chai ("life") sounds similar but is a different name from a different language, and Māori kai ("food") is likewise unrelated.
Kai Name History & Origins
The Hawaiian word kai descends from a Proto-Polynesian word for the sea (compare Tahitian tai), with the Hawaiian sound change of t to k. It appears in everyday Hawaiian speech, in place names, and inside longer personal names, and in modern times it is also given on its own. The same sound carries other meanings elsewhere in Polynesia: in Māori, kai means "food," and the Māori word for sea is tai, so Hawaiian kai and Māori kai are not the same word.
In Chinese, 凯 has long been used in words for military and festive triumph, such as 凯旋 (a triumphant return) and 凯歌 (a song of victory), and from there became a common element in personal names.
In German-speaking Europe, Kai and the spelling Kay came into use as given names within the older Frisian and Low German naming tradition, where short forms were common. The modern German common noun Kai, meaning a quay or wharf, is a separate borrowing from Dutch and is not the source of the personal name.
Sir Kay, the foster-brother of King Arthur in Arthurian romance, belongs to a different strand: his name comes from the Welsh Cai, recorded in medieval Welsh literature such as Culhwch and Olwen, and is generally traced to the Latin Caius. Some modern retellings spell it Kai, but this is the Welsh tradition rather than the source of the Hawaiian or Chinese names.
In the English-speaking world, Kai has been adopted as a given name from these separate traditions, and it is also established in Finland, Scandinavia, and Estonia. Because the roots are independent, what the name means depends on which tradition is intended.
How Popular is the Name Kai?
Kai recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Its best rank was #59 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,054 | 234 | 0.0146% |
| 2024 | #1,133 | 213 | 0.0132% |
| 2023 | #940 | 282 | 0.0176% |
| 2022 | #791 | 358 | 0.0218% |
| 2021 | #769 | 371 | 0.0226% |
| 2020 | #792 | 344 | 0.0213% |
| 2019 | #809 | 338 | 0.0201% |
| 2018 | #854 | 318 | 0.0187% |
| 2017 | #809 | 338 | 0.0196% |
| 2016 | #879 | 320 | 0.0181% |
| 2015 | #888 | 311 | 0.0174% |
| 2014 | #989 | 270 | 0.0151% |
| 2013 | #906 | 282 | 0.0161% |
| 2012 | #919 | 281 | 0.0160% |
| 2011 | #889 | 294 | 0.0167% |
| 2010 | #955 | 268 | 0.0151% |
| 2009 | #1,086 | 235 | 0.0128% |
| 2008 | #1,105 | 234 | 0.0124% |
| 2007 | #1,200 | 210 | 0.0109% |
| 2006 | #1,301 | 180 | 0.0095% |
| 2005 | #1,232 | 185 | 0.0100% |
| 2004 | #1,305 | 164 | 0.0089% |
| 2003 | #1,367 | 148 | 0.0081% |
| 2002 | #1,255 | 158 | 0.0088% |
| 2001 | #1,471 | 128 | 0.0071% |
| 2000 | #1,416 | 131 | 0.0072% |
| 1999 | #1,280 | 144 | 0.0081% |
| 1998 | #1,369 | 126 | 0.0071% |
| 1997 | #1,349 | 128 | 0.0074% |
| 1996 | #1,727 | 87 | 0.0050% |
| 1995 | #1,778 | 81 | 0.0046% |
| 1994 | #1,694 | 88 | 0.0049% |
| 1993 | #1,837 | 79 | 0.0044% |
| 1992 | #2,018 | 68 | 0.0037% |
| 1991 | #2,402 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 1990 | #2,415 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1989 | #2,897 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1988 | #2,504 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1987 | #2,876 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1986 | #3,159 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1985 | #2,827 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1984 | #2,063 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1983 | #2,491 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1982 | #2,425 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1981 | #2,212 | 46 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #1,739 | 64 | 0.0039% |
| 1979 | #1,887 | 56 | 0.0035% |
| 1978 | #1,606 | 67 | 0.0044% |
| 1977 | #2,104 | 45 | 0.0029% |
| 1976 | #2,076 | 42 | 0.0029% |
| 1975 | #2,110 | 41 | 0.0028% |
| 1974 | #1,975 | 43 | 0.0029% |
| 1973 | #1,897 | 44 | 0.0030% |
| 1972 | #1,842 | 46 | 0.0030% |
| 1971 | #2,902 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1970 | #3,153 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #7,001 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #3,881 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #3,550 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #4,314 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #3,324 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #6,347 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #5,062 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #3,508 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #4,695 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #5,412 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #5,284 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,335 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #3,569 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #6,081 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #93 | 3,768 | 0.2206% |
| 2024 | #76 | 4,276 | 0.2493% |
| 2023 | #61 | 4,967 | 0.2907% |
| 2022 | #59 | 5,366 | 0.3076% |
| 2021 | #70 | 4,638 | 0.2653% |
| 2020 | #93 | 3,863 | 0.2239% |
| 2019 | #100 | 3,741 | 0.2086% |
| 2018 | #112 | 3,462 | 0.1907% |
| 2017 | #126 | 3,155 | 0.1705% |
| 2016 | #145 | 2,895 | 0.1526% |
| 2015 | #145 | 2,852 | 0.1488% |
| 2014 | #177 | 2,411 | 0.1255% |
| 2013 | #199 | 1,983 | 0.1049% |
| 2012 | #197 | 1,938 | 0.1022% |
| 2011 | #202 | 1,790 | 0.0943% |
| 2010 | #205 | 1,749 | 0.0912% |
| 2009 | #213 | 1,759 | 0.0887% |
| 2008 | #229 | 1,609 | 0.0789% |
| 2007 | #252 | 1,399 | 0.0674% |
| 2006 | #238 | 1,451 | 0.0706% |
| 2005 | #239 | 1,413 | 0.0708% |
| 2004 | #249 | 1,324 | 0.0667% |
| 2003 | #264 | 1,217 | 0.0616% |
| 2002 | #276 | 1,108 | 0.0571% |
| 2001 | #370 | 718 | 0.0370% |
| 2000 | #403 | 622 | 0.0317% |
| 1999 | #478 | 465 | 0.0242% |
| 1998 | #548 | 363 | 0.0190% |
| 1997 | #576 | 322 | 0.0171% |
| 1996 | #598 | 297 | 0.0157% |
| 1995 | #535 | 357 | 0.0188% |
| 1994 | #714 | 215 | 0.0111% |
| 1993 | #784 | 182 | 0.0093% |
| 1992 | #837 | 159 | 0.0080% |
| 1991 | #831 | 155 | 0.0077% |
| 1990 | #928 | 124 | 0.0060% |
| 1989 | #850 | 140 | 0.0070% |
| 1988 | #1,016 | 93 | 0.0049% |
| 1987 | #925 | 105 | 0.0056% |
| 1986 | #935 | 96 | 0.0052% |
| 1985 | #915 | 99 | 0.0054% |
| 1984 | #964 | 85 | 0.0047% |
| 1983 | #1,026 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 1982 | #920 | 95 | 0.0052% |
| 1981 | #958 | 89 | 0.0050% |
| 1980 | #994 | 83 | 0.0047% |
| 1979 | #950 | 87 | 0.0051% |
| 1978 | #1,009 | 74 | 0.0045% |
| 1977 | #1,065 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 1976 | #1,172 | 54 | 0.0034% |
| 1975 | #1,109 | 58 | 0.0037% |
| 1974 | #1,173 | 50 | 0.0032% |
| 1973 | #1,132 | 53 | 0.0034% |
| 1972 | #1,123 | 53 | 0.0033% |
| 1971 | #1,340 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1970 | #1,075 | 58 | 0.0031% |
| 1969 | #1,159 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1968 | #1,094 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 1967 | #1,190 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1966 | #1,271 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1965 | #1,347 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1964 | #1,397 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #1,332 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1962 | #1,464 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1961 | #1,717 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #1,842 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #1,570 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1958 | #1,808 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #2,056 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,436 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #1,662 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1954 | #2,162 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #2,621 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #4,001 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #2,099 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #2,671 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #3,971 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #3,679 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1932 | #3,571 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,959 | 6 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Kai
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Kai Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Kai's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kai's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.