The nameKai
Kai is a short name with several origins: Hawaiian for "sea", Scandinavian and Frisian. It is given to boys and sometimes girls around the world.
- Unisex name
- Several origins meet in this name
Meaning
In Hawaiian, kai means "sea". In Scandinavia and Frisia, Kai is an old name of uncertain meaning, sometimes linked to Caius or Gerhard. In Japanese and Chinese, similar sounds have various meanings.
Origin
Several origins meet in this name. In Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, Kai is the boy saved by his friend Gerda.
History
Kai spread in the English-speaking world from the 1990s and is common in Germany and the Netherlands. It is in the American top 100.
Famous people named Kai
- Kai Havertz, footballer
- Kai Greene, bodybuilder
- Kai, character of The Snow Queen
Popularity of the name Kai
Kai in the United States
Kai was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 28,996 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named Kai. Its rise began around 1999, and it peaked in 2022. Half of all babies named Kai in the United States were born before 2016, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 4,936 births a year on average, against 3,546 in the five years before.
Kai in the United Kingdom
Kai was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 11,815 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Kai. Half of all babies named Kai in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 865 births a year.
Kai in Ireland
Kai in Switzerland
Kai in Austria
Kai in Norway
Sibling names for Kai
Names from the same generation as Kai, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Kai? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Kai with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Kai side by side with the name of your choice.
Kai in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kai mean?
In Hawaiian, kai means "sea". In Scandinavia and Frisia, Kai is an old name of uncertain meaning, sometimes linked to Caius or Gerhard. In Japanese and Chinese, similar sounds have various meanings.
What is the origin of the name Kai?
Several origins meet in this name. In Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, Kai is the boy saved by his friend Gerda.
Is Kai a girl's or a boy's name?
Kai is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 11% of the babies named Kai are girls.
How popular is the name Kai?
In 2024, Kai was the 76th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 4,276 births.
What are good sibling names for Kai?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Leilani, Elena, Iris and Ellie for a sister, Amir, Elias, Myles and Lorenzo for a brother.
Who are famous people named Kai?
Kai Havertz, footballer; Kai Greene, bodybuilder; Kai, character of The Snow Queen.