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.
How To Pronounce Kai?
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.
Rank 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.
Names 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.
