Kai
How to say it: KYE · /ˈkaɪ/
Multiple origins: Hawaiian 'sea'; Japanese 'shell' or 'ocean'; Frisian short form of names beginning with K.
Kai was the 102nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,768 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #88 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #102 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,768 |
| Share of births | 1 in 864 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +31% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #88 |
| In France, 2025 | #598 among boys’ names, 60 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Right now marks the high point for Kai, with the 2020s its best decade yet. Holding at the top, it is expected to keep rising.
What goes with it
Bright and crisp in a short burst, sounded as KYE. Finn has the same breezy energy and River brings a watery link.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kai is about 1 in 36.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh.
In France: #598 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #78. Ireland: #34.
Famous people named Kai
- Kai Havertz (born 1999)German association football player
- Kai Siegbahn (1918–2007)Swedish physicist
- Kai Hansen (born 1963)German guitarist and singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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