Origin, Meaning, And History Of Kai
The name Kai started gaining popularity in the 1970s. Kai is a gender-neutral Welsh name that has roots in many cultures, including Scandinavia and Greece, where it means “keeper of the keys.” In the US, Kai is often associated with Hawaiian roots, which translate to “sea.”
In Japanese culture, Kai means “shell,” in Europe, it is believed to have Frisian origin as a shortened version of the name Kaimbe, which means “warrior.” Kai is the Maori word for “food” in New Zealand. Kai also denotes “from the sea” in Arabic, “fire” or “fireball” in Greek, and “pier” in Estonian. In addition to these origin tales, the name Kai occurs independently in Africa, China, Turkey, and among several Native American tribes.
Kai has many other variations, including Cai, Kaleb, Ky, MacKay, Kylo, Chi, and Kaysie. The use of the name has risen in popularity and has continued to rank among the top 1000 over time.
According to Social Security Administration records, Kai’s popularity has recently increased; figures went up from 403 in 2000 to 100 in 2019 and 93 in 2020. It suggests that the US had adopted the baby name Kai more frequently.
Kai is a tropical name that celebrities have chosen to name their children, notably Jennifer Connelly, who named her son Kai in 1997. In 2008, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber gave their son Samuel the middle name Kai.
Numerous fictional characters have also been named Kai, including Kai Booker from the television series Being Erica. Kai is a character in the computer-animated television program Ninjago, and Kai Lung is a character in Ernest Bramah’s eponymous novel series.
Kai
How To Pronounce Kai?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Kai in English.
Famous People With The Name Kai
- Kai AltairAmerican Musician
- Kai AlexanderBritish Actor
- Kai CorreaAmerican Baseball Coach
- Kai EkangerNorwegian Politician
- Kai EllisAmerican Football Player
- Kai KaheleAmerican Politician
- Kai NurminenFinnish Ice hockey Player
- Kai WulffAmerican Actor
Kai On The Popularity Chart
To learn more about Kai’s popularity and ranking, check out the graphs shared here.
Popularity Over Time
While the name Kai was prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s, it has just recently become increasingly popular, peaking in 2021 when more than 4,500 babies (per million) were given the name.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Among other names, Kai’s ranking in popularity rose in the 1980s and peaked in 2007. Here is a graphic representation of its growth over the years.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Kai
Did you like the sound of Kai but are looking for something unique? Take a look at these similar-sounding names.
Popular Sibling Names For Kai
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Kai, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Kai
Find matching brother names for Kai and create a wonderful team of siblings.
KaabKaaj Kaalappan Kaalathi Kaali Kaalindi Kaaliya Kaalki Kaam Kaamaari Girl Sibling Names For Kai
Looking for some suitable sister names for Kai? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
KaKaajal Kaalaka Kaalanjari Kaalika Kaamakya Kaameh Kaamisha Kaamna Kaamnoosh Other Popular Names Beginning With K
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter K to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Same Meaning As Kai
Looking for some other name that has a similar meaning as Kai? Here are some options that could work well with Kai; you can also use them for a sibling.
Infographic: Know The Name Kai‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name Kai In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
kai
In Sign Language
kai
In Braille Alphabet
kai
In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Kai
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does Kai mean in Africa?
The name Kai means ‘love’ in Yoruba, a language spoken by a West African ethnic group that predominantly inhabits different regions in Nigeria, Togo, and Benin.
2. Is Kai short for Malakai?
Kai is the short form of Malakai, the Americanized version of the Hebrew name Malachi or Malachai, meaning ‘my messenger’ or ‘my angel.’
3. Why is Cobra Kai called Kai?
Cobra Kai is an American comedy-drama series that aired on YouTube before moving on to Netflix. It is a sequel to The Karate Kid films. Cobra Kai is also the name of a martial arts school established by Grandmaster Steven G. Abbate in 1971. The Kai in Cobra Kai means ‘assembly’ or ‘association.’ Therefore, Cobra Kai translates to Cobra Group or Cobra Association.
4. Does Kai mean God?
Kai does not mean God in any language or culture. However, the Japanese anime series Dragon Ball Z has a character named King Kai, who is depicted as the God of Earth and various other planets in the show.
5. Is Kai a Biblical name?
Kai itself does not have any biblical significance or connotations to it. But, it is often used as the shortened form of Malachi, a biblical name referring to Prophet Malachi from the Old Testament (1).
6. What is the spiritual meaning of Kai?
The spiritual meanings of Kai are ‘healing’ and ‘protection.’
7. Is Kai a trendy name?
The name Kai is quite a popular name in the US. According to data from the SSA, 5343 babies were given the name in 2022. That year, Kai ranked 59 among the top 1000 names in the US (2).
8. What middle names go well with Kai?
References:
- Who was the Prophet Malachi?
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1678766/jewish/Who-Was-the-Prophet-Malachi.htm - Popularity of name Kai.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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