Boy Girl’s name Kai Kai Kai is a Polynesian name meaning sea. Kai Name Origin: Polynesian Pronunciation: ky See what 29 people think about Kai Share Popularity Alternatives Lists Comments Infographic of Kai name meaning, which is Kai is a Polynesian name meaning sea. Ask your friends & family about Kai… Share Pin Tweet Email Text Kai Name Popularity How popular is the name Kai? Here’s everything we know. Chart Raw Data By State Year Rank # Births % Births 1910 — 0 0% 1911 — 0 0% 1912 — 0 0% 1913 — 0 0% 1914 — 0 0% 1915 — 0 0% 1916 — 0 0% 1917 — 0 0% 1918 — 0 0% 1919 — 0 0% 1920 — 0 0% 1921 — 0 0% 1922 — 0 0% 1923 — 0 0% 1924 — 0 0% 1925 — 0 0% 1926 — 0 0% 1927 — 0 0% 1928 — 0 0% 1929 — 0 0% 1930 — 0 0% 1931 — 0 0% 1932 — 0 0% 1933 — 0 0% 1934 — 0 0% 1935 — 0 0% 1936 — 0 0% 1937 — 0 0% 1938 — 0 0% 1939 — 0 0% 1940 — 0 0% 1941 — 0 0% 1942 — 0 0% 1943 — 0 0% 1944 — 0 0% 1945 — 0 0% 1946 — 0 0% 1947 — 0 0% 1948 — 0 0% 1949 — 0 0% 1950 — 0 0% 1951 — 0 0% 1952 — 0 0% 1953 — 0 0% 1954 1,580 5 0.0003% 1955 1,551 5 0.0003% 1956 — 0 0% 1957 1,447 6 0.0003% 1958 — 0 0% 1959 — 0 0% 1960 1,331 8 0.0004% 1961 — 0 0% 1962 — 0 0% 1963 1,118 15 0.0008% 1964 1,459 6 0.0003% 1965 1,362 7 0.0004% 1966 1,074 16 0.001% 1967 1,192 10 0.0007% 1968 1,171 13 0.0009% 1969 1,076 19 0.0012% 1970 1,203 16 0.001% 1971 1,437 9 0.0006% 1972 1,183 16 0.0012% 1973 1,815 5 0.0004% 1974 1,128 20 0.0015% 1975 1,069 25 0.0019% 1976 1,175 19 0.0015% 1977 1,218 19 0.0014% 1978 1,015 32 0.0024% 1979 969 42 0.003% 1980 1,019 37 0.0025% 1981 1,044 35 0.0024% 1982 968 45 0.003% 1983 1,076 33 0.0022% 1984 1,006 37 0.0025% 1985 948 50 0.0033% 1986 1,038 40 0.0026% 1987 928 58 0.0038% 1988 1,080 44 0.0028% 1989 850 90 0.0056% 1990 945 75 0.0045% 1991 915 86 0.0053% 1992 819 113 0.0071% 1993 845 110 0.0071% 1994 741 150 0.0098% 1995 532 319 0.0212% 1996 612 242 0.0162% 1997 581 271 0.0183% 1998 543 324 0.0216% 1999 479 427 0.0285% 2000 405 575 0.0376% 2001 373 677 0.0449% 2002 278 1,075 0.0717% 2003 265 1,190 0.0782% 2004 251 1,293 0.0848% 2005 240 1,385 0.0906% 2006 237 1,436 0.0917% 2007 251 1,378 0.0873% 2008 229 1,587 0.1027% 2009 214 1,736 0.1161% 2010 205 1,719 0.1193% 2011 202 1,760 0.1235% 2012 193 1,930 0.1354% 2013 198 1,965 0.138% 2014 177 2,395 0.1644% 2015 145 2,838 0.195% 2016 144 2,883 0.2% 2017 128 3,112 0.223% 2018 113 3,412 0.2483% 2019 100 3,718 0.2746% 2020 93 3,764 0.2957% 2021 71 4,591 0.3756% Alaska (AK) Alabama (AL) Arkansas (AR) Arizona (AZ) California (CA) Colorado (CO) Connecticut (CT) District of Columbia (DC) Delaware (DE) Florida (FL) Georgia (GA) Hawaii (HI) Iowa (IA) Idaho (ID) Illinois (IL) Indiana (IN) Kansas (KS) Kentucky (KY) Louisiana (LA) Massachusetts (MA) Maryland (MD) Maine (ME) Michigan (MI) Minnesota (MN) Missouri (MO) Mississippi (MS) Montana (MT) North Carolina (NC) North Dakota (ND) Nebraska (NE) New Hampshire (NH) New Jersey (NJ) New Mexico (NM) Nevada (NV) New York (NY) Ohio (OH) Oklahoma (OK) Oregon (OR) Pennsylvania (PA) Rhode Island (RI) South Carolina (SC) South Dakota (SD) Tennessee (TN) Texas (TX) Utah (UT) Virginia (VA) Vermont (VT) Washington (WA) Wisconsin (WI) West Virginia (WV) Wyoming (WY) Data via SSA.gov. Names Like Kai If you like Kai, you’ll love these other names like Kai. What names are variants of Kai? Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Kai. Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender Kaj Keeper of the keys; earth Welsh Keh Keeper of the keys; earth; happy, rejoicing Welsh Kye Keeper of the keys; earth; narrow, straight Welsh What names sound like Kai? If you like how Kai sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Kai. Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender Cai Rejoice; happy, rejoice Latin Caio Rejoice; happy, rejoice Latin Gay Lively, high-spirited; son of the fair-skinned one Irish Kauai Polynesian Kawai The waters Polynesian Kaye Rejoice; happy, rejoice Latin Key Note; key English Lists With Kai Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Kai. Little Boy Names for Your Darling Baby // 150 names Little boy names aren’t afraid to declare they’re young, wild, and free. Check out our collection of these youngsters ready for adventure. Boy Pet Names for Your New Cuddly Critter // 324 names Boy pet names can suit your critter’s looks or personality. They can also be totally out there and fun. Check out our list of these animal monikers. Australian Boy Names for Your Little Joey // 110 names Travel down under on an epic adventure with the most popular Australian boy names. Check out this list of moniker mates, from timeless treasures to super surprises. Meaningful Boy Names Loaded with Heart // 269 names Meaningful boy names offer a depth unlike any other. From musical meanings to those with brawn and bravery, meet them with us. Nice Boy Names With a Boy-Next-Door Feel // 175 names Charm and chivalry are found in excess with nice boy names. Browse our collection of these amazing names featuring boy-next-door appeal and sweet meanings. Siblings of Kai Mamas with kids named Kai also have kids with these names. Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender Maryn From the sea Latin Lily Lily flower English Leo Lion Latin Philip Horse lover Greek Eli Ascension Hebrew Ian God is gracious Scottish Ellianah Jayden Thankful one Hebrew Jaiden Thankful one Hebrew Xavier New house Spanish Share Your Thoughts 29 Comments paul maenhout Nov 28 at 2:40 am I have a grandson with this name, born 2 days ago. I had no idea that there were so many links in so many languages. Yes, we once did our job well while chosing the name for our daughter (Freya is the daughter of Njord, the god of the seas in the Scandinavian works of Snorri Sturluson (the Icelandic author), her chariot was pulled by cats, her favorite animals. Nice to hear we’re staying next to the sea…… But my daughter has a higher grade Shotokan Karate, she already used this warrior shout many many times……my son-in-law is a good hobby-cook and Kai-Shun is also a brand of top-end handmade Japanese damast knives. So I have an idea. Reply Yana Oct 12 at 3:30 pm meaningful, plus that was first name me and my partner were in agreement for Reply Jennifer Sep 28 at 10:40 pm My three year old son! Love the name, means “sea” and my kids and I all LOVE the Florida ocean , nothing like a beach day, and felt It was fitting for him. Reply Zacoma Aug 12 at 4:57 pm So funny ? Reply Carly Aug 3 at 11:34 am I first heard of this name on a Canadian nineties Sci-fi series called Lexx. One of the main character’s is a handsome man named Kai. I also like the name of the female love interest her name being Zev. Reply Sarah May 27 at 7:36 am His father came up with his name because it means world Reply Anne Jaenicke May 24 at 8:31 am Kai means the sea and water, which is important to us as we live by the ocean! Reply Keanu Mar 9 at 8:28 am We chose our son’s name on my second day of labor. We had a list and Kai means warrior, and he was for sure putting up a fight. Reply Kaitlyn Mar 3 at 1:32 pm I just really love the name. A lot of people think since my name is Kaitlyn that’s why I decided to name him that but I just think it’s cute. The meanings are nice too. In Hawaiian it means “sea”. In Japanese it means “shell”. In Europe, it means “warrior”. It’s also said to have Greek roots meaning “keeper of the keys” or “earth”. It kinda worked out cutely because his nursery theme is nautical so that fits well and he’s an Aquarius so that’s water related as well 🙂 Reply Amber Feb 4 at 1:52 pm My husband is Scandinavian and wanted a named based around his heritage. Therefore I began looking at the multiple Scandinavian names and most of them are what I thought to be “Viking” names. There ended up being only two names that I liked “Kai” and “Gunner.” We started asking family members which one they liked more and as the days went by (I think within a week of finding these names) the name “Kai” grew on me more than the name “Gunner.” Reply Alexandria Wood Jan 3 at 11:05 am We chose the name Kai after hearing it, letting it sink in, and trying it out in multiple different forms while talking to my belly. It was one of those things that just clicked and felt right. We knew our baby boy needed to have this name. We love that it’s a cute name, but will also be a strong name as an adult. Reply Dianne Nov 18 at 7:30 am Kai – The Almighty Ocean. Chosen because his daddy loves the sea and spent part of his childhood in Hawaii. Also means warrior like his daddy. Reply Kepsnide Nov 15 at 11:52 am Just gave his god mother the opportunity to name him Reply Brittney Sep 14 at 2:51 pm Kai is the perfect mix of cool and slightly hippie!! Also I love that Malakai is a bible name as well! Reply Kai Jul 7 at 12:22 pm It has both Japanese and Hawaiian meaning (sea/ocean). My husband is Japanese which made it a little more significant for us. We also just love how short and sweet it is. We both have short names. Reply Irene Jul 5 at 12:39 pm My husband and I wanted a short first name that started with a K because I refused to call my son a Jr. We also opted out of a middle name. My husbands name is Kieffer Alan and I’m Irene. If you take the first letter of each name it spells out Kai. We felt it was perfect! ? Reply Sara Jun 9 at 8:16 am We loved how short and sweet the name is. We also liked that Kai is a name in many different cultures and languages since our family has a varried background. Reply Stephanie Oct 6 at 12:57 pm It was important to me to have a short sweet name that was also strong and unique. I wanted all of these traits in my baby. Reply Tee Sep 2 at 1:48 pm Same I like his name and wanted a three letter name Reply Selena Serrano Aug 27 at 10:14 am It was between Kai and Cruz. Hard choice but went with Kai because my other sons middle name is Cruz and he promised me if I named baby Kai I would be able to call him Cruz! Lol Reply Lina Aug 20 at 2:19 pm We love that this name can be pronounced the same way in multiple languages and it’s meaning in Hawaiian as Ocean is significant for us as baby’s great grandpa was Hawaiian and the ocean is very dear to us. Also it’s meaning in Navajo as willow tree and other languages it’s meaning as earth or keeper of keys. We find it to be so beautiful and fitting for our calm and grounding little one. Reply adrianna n. Jun 15 at 12:10 am my sons name is kai ? Reply Monica Aug 28 at 5:45 pm Don’t dislike anything about this name! When I found it it just felt right and like magic, then I looked up meanings and found it has like 50 different meanings around the world and they are all positive. Sounds like good vibes to me ? Reply Brittney Aug 16 at 10:53 am We were living in Hawaii when we conceived so Kai was picked because it is Hawaiian. It means “ocean” so we thought it was a perfect fit. It also happened to be the last name of our pastor at our church! Reply Ellin Jul 21 at 7:59 am We wanted a name that had water symbolism. I think the name suits my sons personality and his appearance. There were many attributes behind the meaning of his name that I wanted my child to have. Reply Leiilani Jun 16 at 6:29 pm The name came to me while swimming in the ocean very early in my pregnancy. After looking into it the name meant ocean in Hawaii. My name is also from Hawaii. We did not know the sex but I had a strong feeling I was having a boy. Although I may have kept the name boy or girl. Reply Kristin Jun 11 at 12:12 pm We chose Kai because it means ocean and my husband and I love vacationing to Aruba for the crystal blue waters. Reply Juanita Zeigler Apr 24 at 7:59 am I love this name. I’ve heard it on a few shows and it was close to my moms name Kim. Reply Katie Apr 13 at 1:12 pm We chose Kai because it means ocean. We are beach people, and loved the connection the the ocean. Also, his twin sister’s name means sea and we loved that their names shared some meaning. Reply Share your thoughts on the name Kai Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published. 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paul maenhout Nov 28 at 2:40 am I have a grandson with this name, born 2 days ago. I had no idea that there were so many links in so many languages. Yes, we once did our job well while chosing the name for our daughter (Freya is the daughter of Njord, the god of the seas in the Scandinavian works of Snorri Sturluson (the Icelandic author), her chariot was pulled by cats, her favorite animals. Nice to hear we’re staying next to the sea…… But my daughter has a higher grade Shotokan Karate, she already used this warrior shout many many times……my son-in-law is a good hobby-cook and Kai-Shun is also a brand of top-end handmade Japanese damast knives. So I have an idea. Reply
Yana Oct 12 at 3:30 pm meaningful, plus that was first name me and my partner were in agreement for Reply
Jennifer Sep 28 at 10:40 pm My three year old son! Love the name, means “sea” and my kids and I all LOVE the Florida ocean , nothing like a beach day, and felt It was fitting for him. Reply
Carly Aug 3 at 11:34 am I first heard of this name on a Canadian nineties Sci-fi series called Lexx. One of the main character’s is a handsome man named Kai. I also like the name of the female love interest her name being Zev. Reply
Anne Jaenicke May 24 at 8:31 am Kai means the sea and water, which is important to us as we live by the ocean! Reply
Keanu Mar 9 at 8:28 am We chose our son’s name on my second day of labor. We had a list and Kai means warrior, and he was for sure putting up a fight. Reply
Kaitlyn Mar 3 at 1:32 pm I just really love the name. A lot of people think since my name is Kaitlyn that’s why I decided to name him that but I just think it’s cute. The meanings are nice too. In Hawaiian it means “sea”. In Japanese it means “shell”. In Europe, it means “warrior”. It’s also said to have Greek roots meaning “keeper of the keys” or “earth”. It kinda worked out cutely because his nursery theme is nautical so that fits well and he’s an Aquarius so that’s water related as well 🙂 Reply
Amber Feb 4 at 1:52 pm My husband is Scandinavian and wanted a named based around his heritage. Therefore I began looking at the multiple Scandinavian names and most of them are what I thought to be “Viking” names. There ended up being only two names that I liked “Kai” and “Gunner.” We started asking family members which one they liked more and as the days went by (I think within a week of finding these names) the name “Kai” grew on me more than the name “Gunner.” Reply
Alexandria Wood Jan 3 at 11:05 am We chose the name Kai after hearing it, letting it sink in, and trying it out in multiple different forms while talking to my belly. It was one of those things that just clicked and felt right. We knew our baby boy needed to have this name. We love that it’s a cute name, but will also be a strong name as an adult. Reply
Dianne Nov 18 at 7:30 am Kai – The Almighty Ocean. Chosen because his daddy loves the sea and spent part of his childhood in Hawaii. Also means warrior like his daddy. Reply
Brittney Sep 14 at 2:51 pm Kai is the perfect mix of cool and slightly hippie!! Also I love that Malakai is a bible name as well! Reply
Kai Jul 7 at 12:22 pm It has both Japanese and Hawaiian meaning (sea/ocean). My husband is Japanese which made it a little more significant for us. We also just love how short and sweet it is. We both have short names. Reply
Irene Jul 5 at 12:39 pm My husband and I wanted a short first name that started with a K because I refused to call my son a Jr. We also opted out of a middle name. My husbands name is Kieffer Alan and I’m Irene. If you take the first letter of each name it spells out Kai. We felt it was perfect! ? Reply
Sara Jun 9 at 8:16 am We loved how short and sweet the name is. We also liked that Kai is a name in many different cultures and languages since our family has a varried background. Reply
Stephanie Oct 6 at 12:57 pm It was important to me to have a short sweet name that was also strong and unique. I wanted all of these traits in my baby. Reply
Selena Serrano Aug 27 at 10:14 am It was between Kai and Cruz. Hard choice but went with Kai because my other sons middle name is Cruz and he promised me if I named baby Kai I would be able to call him Cruz! Lol Reply
Lina Aug 20 at 2:19 pm We love that this name can be pronounced the same way in multiple languages and it’s meaning in Hawaiian as Ocean is significant for us as baby’s great grandpa was Hawaiian and the ocean is very dear to us. Also it’s meaning in Navajo as willow tree and other languages it’s meaning as earth or keeper of keys. We find it to be so beautiful and fitting for our calm and grounding little one. Reply
Monica Aug 28 at 5:45 pm Don’t dislike anything about this name! When I found it it just felt right and like magic, then I looked up meanings and found it has like 50 different meanings around the world and they are all positive. Sounds like good vibes to me ? Reply
Brittney Aug 16 at 10:53 am We were living in Hawaii when we conceived so Kai was picked because it is Hawaiian. It means “ocean” so we thought it was a perfect fit. It also happened to be the last name of our pastor at our church! Reply
Ellin Jul 21 at 7:59 am We wanted a name that had water symbolism. I think the name suits my sons personality and his appearance. There were many attributes behind the meaning of his name that I wanted my child to have. Reply
Leiilani Jun 16 at 6:29 pm The name came to me while swimming in the ocean very early in my pregnancy. After looking into it the name meant ocean in Hawaii. My name is also from Hawaii. We did not know the sex but I had a strong feeling I was having a boy. Although I may have kept the name boy or girl. Reply
Kristin Jun 11 at 12:12 pm We chose Kai because it means ocean and my husband and I love vacationing to Aruba for the crystal blue waters. Reply
Juanita Zeigler Apr 24 at 7:59 am I love this name. I’ve heard it on a few shows and it was close to my moms name Kim. Reply
Katie Apr 13 at 1:12 pm We chose Kai because it means ocean. We are beach people, and loved the connection the the ocean. Also, his twin sister’s name means sea and we loved that their names shared some meaning. Reply
