Kai
Kai: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /kaɪ/
Meaning and origin of Kai
Root meaning: “sea”
- A unisex given name from the Germanic languages, of modern usage.
- A female given name of modern usage.
Etymology
Taken into regular use in the 1990s, with earlier popularity peaks in Scandinavia and Germany. The medieval Danish Kaj is possibly of Roman origin, Latinized as Caius, like the rare medieval English male given name Kay. The German Kai may also derive from a West Frisian pet form of Gerard, Cornelius, Nicholas, or Kampe "warrior". In the U.S. Kai has also been explained as Hawaiian kai (“sea”).
How popular is Kai?
Since 1880, 8,478 girls and 70,232 boys in the U.S. have been named Kai (11% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #770 in 2021. Its highest rank for boys was #59 in 2022. In 2025 it ranked #93 for boys, with 4,002 babies given the name.
Names similar to Kai
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic unisex names
Sibling name ideas for Kai
Sister and brother names that share Kai's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Kai FAQ
What does the name Kai mean?
Kai traces back to a root meaning "sea". A unisex given name from the Germanic languages, of modern usage. A female given name of modern usage. Taken into regular use in the 1990s, with earlier popularity peaks in Scandinavia and Germany. The medieval Danish Kaj is possibly of Roman origin, Latinized as Caius, like the rare medieval English male given name Kay. The German Kai may also derive from a West Frisian pet form of Gerard, Cornelius, Nicholas, or Kampe "warrior". In the U.S. Kai has also been explained as Hawaiian kai (“sea”).
What is the origin of the name Kai?
Kai is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Kai?
Since 1880, 8,478 girls and 70,232 boys in the U.S. have been named Kai (11% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #770 in 2021. Its highest rank for boys was #59 in 2022. In 2025 it ranked #93 for boys, with 4,002 babies given the name.
Is Kai a boy or girl name?
Kai is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (8,478 girls and 70,232 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.