Kai: Meaning, Origin, and Popularity
The sea, a name that feels like an ocean breeze across many cultures.
Kai as a Boy Name
- Origin
- Hawaiian
- Syllables
- 1
- Current rank
- #51
- Peak
- #45 in 2023
Trend: Rising, climbing the charts over the latest decade.
Popularity over time
Lower rank = more popular (rank 1 is the most popular name)
What Kai Means
Kai is a boy name of Hawaiian origin. The sea, a name that feels like an ocean breeze across many cultures.
How Popular Kai Is
Kai currently ranks #51 among boy names in the United States, based on Social Security Administration data. It peaked at #45 in 2023. It is rising.
Good to Know About Kai
- Kai means sea in Hawaiian, food in Maori, and forgiveness in Japanese.
- The name is used in cultures from Scandinavia to China.
- Kai has been one of the fastest-rising multicultural names.
Kai as a Unisex Name
- Origin
- Hawaiian
- Syllables
- 1
- Current rank
- #93
- Peak
- #93 in 2020
Trend: Steady, holding a similar rank across the latest decade.
Popularity over time
Lower rank = more popular (rank 1 is the most popular name)
What Kai Means
Kai is a unisex name of Hawaiian origin. The sea, carrying the spirit of ocean waves and island breezes.
How Popular Kai Is
Kai currently ranks #93 among name for any genders in the United States, based on Social Security Administration data. It peaked at #93 in 2020. It has held steady.
Good to Know About Kai
- Kai broke into the top 100 baby names in the U.S., reaching #93 in 2020.
- Kai has shown remarkable staying power, holding steady in the top 100.
- Kai has been a top 100 name across 121+ years of American history.
- Kai is a name from the Hawaiian island tradition.
Names Like Kai
Other Hawaiian names that start with the same letter or share a style.
Sibling Names for Kai
Hawaiian names that pair well as a brother or sister to Kai.
Questions About Kai
What does Kai mean?
Kai is a boy name of Hawaiian origin. The sea, a name that feels like an ocean breeze across many cultures.
How popular is Kai?
Kai currently ranks #51 among boy names in the United States, based on Social Security Administration data. It peaked at #45 in 2023. It is rising.
Where does Kai come from?
Kai comes from Hawaiian roots. Kai means sea in Hawaiian, food in Maori, and forgiveness in Japanese.
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