Baby Names Boy Names Kai Name Meaning Kai is most frequently used as a boy's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Kai. By Shannon Day Published on July 29, 2024 Fact checked by Karen Cilli In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Kai? Name Variations Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Kai Close Kai is a name used most frequently for boys and appears to have roots in a variety of cultures. In Hawaiian culture, it means "sea," yet in Japanese culture, the name means "shell." In Europe, Kai is perceived as having Frisian roots, a short form of the name Kaimbe, meaning “warrior.” Kai is also considered to have Welsh, Scandinavian, and Greek origins, meaning "keeper of the keys; earth." African, Chinese, Korean, Native American, and Turkish cultures also use the name Kai. Origin: Kai derives from a multitude of origins. In the US, it is often connected to its Hawaiian roots, meaning “sea.”Gender: Kai is most commonly a boy’s name but it’s occasionally given to girls.Pronunciation: Kye Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. How Popular Is the Name Kai? In 1979, the name Kai first appeared in the top 1000 boys names in the US where it sat at 950th place. Over the years, it has remained within the top 1,000 and has become increasingly popular. With a fairly steady incline over the past decade, Kai made it into the top 100 baby names for 2019 when it sat at No. 100. In 2023, it placed 61st for boys and 940th for girls. Name Variations For those considering the name Kai, you might also think about using some of the following variations: CaiCaiusChi KalebKianKylerKyKylo Similar Names If you like the name Kai, you might appreciate some of these other short names: Ash (Old English) Beck (German, Hebrew) Bay (Latin) Jude (Hebrew) Kaz (Japanese) Kylo (American) Luca (Italian) Seb (Egyptian) Teo (Greek) Theo (Greek) Ty (American) Zale (Greek) Other boy names starting with "K" include: Kace Kain KalebKarterKashKaylenKianKingstonKendallKentKylan Other Hawaiian boy names: Akamu ("of the earth")Bane ("long-awaited child")Kainalu ("surf")Kaimana ("power of the sea")Kainoa ("namesake")Kaleo ("the sound")Keanu ("the breeze")Koi ("to urge," "to implore")Kana ("God has judged")Makani ("wind")Iulio ("youthful") Suggested Sibling Names Looking for some names that go well with Kai? Perhaps you'll like some of these: Aria (Hebrew) Arlo (Old English) Freya (Scandinavian) Lily (Greek) Kamilah (Arabic) Katie (Greek) Koa (Hawaiian) Leilani ( Hawaiian) Mei (Chinese) Micah (Hebrew) Milana (Russian) Milo (Latin) Nani (Hawaiian) Noah (Hebrew) River (Latin) Sienna (Italian) Famous People Named Kai Actress Jennifer Connelly named her son Kai in 1997. And, in 2008, Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts gave their son Samuel the middle name Kai. There are some other notable people with the name Kai, including: Kai Alexander, British actorKai Altair, American singer-songwriterKai Althoff, German multimedia artistKai Bird, American journalistKai Budde, German gamerKai Diekmann, German journalistKai Greene, American bodybuilderKai Wen Tan, American gymnast More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names 45 Gender-Neutral Baby Names 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popularity of a Name. Social Security Administration. 2024.