Kai Unisex

Popularity: #93 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Kye //kaɪ//

Origin: Hawaiian; Japanese; Chinese

Meaning: Hawaiian: sea; Japanese: forgiveness; Chinese: victory

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kai has multiple etymological roots across different cultures and languages. In Hawaiian, Kai means "sea," derived from the Proto-Polynesian *kai, which also carries the meaning of "food" or "to eat." In Japanese, Kai can mean "ocean" or "shell," depending on the kanji used, and it is also associated with meanings like "restoration" or "recovery" when written with different characters.

The name has also been linked to the Welsh word "cai," which is a diminutive of the name Caius, a Latin name meaning "rejoice." The name's journey into English likely occurred through various cultural exchanges, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries, as global interactions increased and names from diverse languages began to be adopted more widely. Historically, the name Kai has been borne by notable figures across cultures.

In the context of Hawaiian culture, it is often associated with the ocean and its significance in Polynesian mythology and navigation. In Japan, the name has been used in various historical texts and literature, reflecting the deep connection between the name and natural elements.

The name's presence in Welsh history can be traced back to the Arthurian legends, where Caius is sometimes mentioned as a knight of King Arthur, further embedding the name in the cultural fabric of the British Isles. Culturally, Kai resonates with themes of nature and the sea, symbolizing strength, fluidity, and the nurturing aspects of water.

This connection to the ocean is particularly significant in Polynesian cultures, where the sea is a vital source of sustenance and a central element of identity. The name's versatility across different languages and cultures has allowed it to maintain a sense of timelessness, appealing to various traditions and beliefs.

In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Kaito in Japanese can also be found, adding layers of meaning and affection to the name.

Famous people named Kai

In this section, you will find notable people named Kai. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kai who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kai who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Kai Greene is an actor and bodybuilder best known for Generation Iron, The Predator, and his role in the Netflix series Stranger Things.

Kai L. Greene is a professional bodybuilder and actor best known for his participation in the Mr. Olympia competition and the film Generation Iron.

Fictional characters named Kai

The following list of fictional characters named Kai is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Kai is a fictional character from the animated series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. He is a skilled ninja and the Elemental Master of Fire, known for his bravery and leadership.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kai, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LiamNoahMiloZaneFinnJace

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kai. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

KoaKianKadeKyeKaiusKairoKellanKieranKylan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kai was first seen in the United States in 1926.

Kai has ranked as high as #90 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Kai has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kai is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kai was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kai.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 4,002 3,768 234
2024 4,515 4,301 214
2023 5,258 4,976 282
2022 5,732 5,374 358
2021 5,012 4,641 371
2020 4,211 3,867 344
2019 4,082 3,744 338
2018 3,781 3,463 318
2017 3,496 3,158 338
2016 3,215 2,895 320
2015 3,163 2,852 311
2014 2,681 2,411 270
2013 2,265 1,983 282
2012 2,219 1,938 281
2011 2,084 1,790 294
2010 2,018 1,750 268
2009 1,994 1,759 235
2008 1,843 1,609 234
2007 1,609 1,399 210
2006 1,631 1,451 180
2005 1,598 1,413 185
2004 1,488 1,324 164
2003 1,365 1,217 148
2002 1,266 1,108 158
2001 846 718 128
2000 753 622 131
1999 609 465 144
1998 489 363 126
1997 450 322 128
1996 384 297 87
1995 438 357 81
1994 304 216 88
1993 261 182 79
1992 227 159 68
1991 208 155 53
1990 175 124 51
1989 178 140 38
1988 136 93 43
1987 139 105 34
1986 125 96 29
1985 132 99 33
1984 134 85 49
1983 112 75 37
1982 134 94 40
1981 134 88 46
1980 147 83 64
1979 143 87 56
1978 141 74 67
1977 111 66 45
1976 96 54 42
1975 99 58 41
1974 93 50 43
1973 97 53 44
1972 98 52 46
1971 64 40 24
1970 79 58 21
1969 52 46 6
1968 60 47 13
1967 54 40 14
1966 46 36 10
1965 48 33 15
1964 38 32 6
1963 43 35 8
1962 43 29 14
1961 32 23 9
1960 27 20 7
1959 33 26 7
1958 29 20 9
1957 28 16 12
1956 12 12 0
1955 22 22 0
1954 14 14 0
1953 15 10 5
1952 5 5 0
1951 14 14 0
1950 9 9 0
1949 5 5 0
1944 5 5 0
1932 6 6 0
1926 6 6 0

Top States for Kai (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 605
14%
TX 456
10%
FL 386
9%
NY 220
5%
GA 167
4%
NC 149
3%
NJ 140
3%
WA 140
3%
OH 138
3%
PA 135
3%
VA 128
3%
IL 109
2%
AZ 108
2%
MI 96
2%
MD 86
2%
IN 86
2%
TN 86
2%
MA 85
2%
CO 81
2%
MN 78
2%
MO 77
2%
LA 71
2%
UT 68
2%
SC 56
1%
AL 53
1%
WI 53
1%
OK 45
1%
OR 43
1%
KY 40
1%
NV 39
1%
AR 38
1%
CT 38
1%
KS 37
1%
HI 33
1%
NM 32
1%
IA 29
1%
ID 26
1%
MS 25
1%
NE 19
0%
AK 18
0%
WV 17
0%
DC 15
0%
MT 12
0%
ME 12
0%
DE 12
0%
NH 12
0%
ND 10
0%
SD 10
0%
RI 8
0%