Kai

Kai - A unique male name

Kai appeared on the charts for the first time in 1954 on position #1656. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kai and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kai? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kai. The baby boy name Kai was given to 3,757 baby boys in 2025, ranking #93 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 390 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kai peaked in popularity 4 years ago in 2022 on position 59.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kai, 1-5?

Kai is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kai is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #13 - and is the least popular in Mississippi at position #227.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kai is where you live.

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Kai origin and meaning

Multiple origins — used independently in several languages

Uncertain as a single name — Kai means "sea" in Hawaiian, is a Scandinavian short form of several names, and exists in other languages with other meanings; American Kai draws on all of them

Kai is a case of several names arriving at the same three letters: a Hawaiian word name, a Frisian and Scandinavian pet form, and forms in Estonian, Japanese and other languages. Its American use dates from 1954 and peaked in 2022.

Origin uncertain

Kai is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Kai, pop culture references for the name Kai and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kai

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kai, sorted by popularity.

Kash / Kasey / Koa / Kase / Kye / Kayce / Kace / Khai / Kay / Khaza /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kai

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kai a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kai?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KY · /kaɪ/

Around the world

• Kai (Hawaiian) — The Hawaiian word for the sea, used as a name.
• Kai (German and Scandinavian) — A traditional short form used as a full name.
• Kai (Estonian) — A feminine form in Estonian use.

Spellings and nicknames

• Kye — A respelling.
• Cai — A rare Welsh-form spelling in American data.

Famous bearers

• Kai Havertz — German international footballer (b. 1999) Contemporary
• Kai Greene — American professional bodybuilder and artist (b. 1975) Contemporary

Style

InternationalNatureShort form

Why parents choose it

Parents like Kai for maximum ease — one syllable, works across cultures, with a breezy, ocean-adjacent feel. It has just passed its 2022 peak.

Worth knowing

• Because it has many origins, people will confidently assign it the wrong one; and it is also used for girls.