Meaning and history
Kai is shared by several unrelated naming traditions. Its northern European origin is uncertain, possibly beginning as a short form of older names, while in Hawaiian kai means sea; Chinese meanings depend on the character used. The name spread widely in the English-speaking world near the end of the 20th century. Notable bearers include footballer Kai Havertz and big-wave surfer Kai Lenny.
20062006: 1,451 births, rank #238
2007: 1,399 births, rank #252
2008: 1,609 births, rank #229
2009: 1,759 births, rank #213
2010: 1,750 births, rank #205
20112011: 1,790 births, rank #202
2012: 1,938 births, rank #197
2013: 1,983 births, rank #199
2014: 2,411 births, rank #177
2015: 2,852 births, rank #145
20162016: 2,895 births, rank #145
2017: 3,158 births, rank #126
2018: 3,463 births, rank #112
2019: 3,744 births, rank #100
2020: 3,867 births, rank #93
20212021: 4,641 births, rank #70
2022: 5,374 births, rank #59
2023: 4,976 births, rank #61
2024: 4,301 births, rank #76
20252025: 3,768 births, rank #93
Kai has risen sharply in the modern US rankings, moving from #403 in 2000 to #93 in 2025. It now stands at #93 for boys. Its highest annual birth count came in 2022, with 5,374 births.