Baby Name Popularity Profile

Kai

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Kai.

✦ Sea 🌍 Other, Japanese, Celtic nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #93
All-Time Peak Rank #59 Achieved 2022
Total U.S. Births 70,232 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 91.2% Boy / 8.8% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1926 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2020s 5,374 births in 2022
💡 The Kai Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Sea
Language Origin Other, Japanese, Celtic
Origin Type multiple
Kai has multiple independent origins. In Hawaiian, it means 'sea'. In Japanese, it can mean 'shell' or 'ocean'. In Welsh, it is a diminutive of Cai, meaning 'keeper of the keys'.
Alternative Spellings
Cai
Pronunciation: KAI
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: Medium · Under review

📖 The Story Behind Kai

According to SSA data, Kai achieved its highest historical rank of #59 in 2022. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2022 with 5,374 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 32.1%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 77 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Kai across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift +32.1% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,374 births in 2022
Years in Top 100 7 yrs
Years in Top 500 27 yrs
Registry Streak 77 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 6
1930s: 6
1940s: 10
1950s: 148
1960s: 341
1970s: 592
1980s: 958
1990s: 2,640
2000s: 12,620
2010s: 25,984
2020s: 26,927

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Kai
Letter Count 3 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 0.2% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 0.2% of SSA names. Starts with K, a letter used by only 7.8% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Kai.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Hawaii
Top States Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, Florida, Utah
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Hawaii #13 1,159 2021 16.7% Decline
Nevada #69 771 2022 2.3% Decline
Alaska #91 243 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #58 5,417 2022 +5.5% Growth
Utah #65 1,301 2023 +6.2% Growth
Washington #68 2,453 2021 +1.9% Growth
Arizona #80 1,782 2022 +4.3% Growth
Oregon #89 1,154 2021 16.0% Decline
Colorado #80 1,523 2022 +2.5% Growth
California #58 12,155 2022 +3.1% Growth
Idaho #157 438 2022 30.8% Decline
Maryland #102 1,472 2022 22.5% Decline
Delaware #110 165 2023 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #68 433 2022 16.1% Decline
Virginia #97 1,797 2022 13.1% Decline
District of Columbia #132 335 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #99 2,064 2021 16.5% Decline
Texas #108 5,431 2022 1.9% Decline
Montana #163 188 2023 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #111 1,742 2022 4.3% Decline
Minnesota #134 1,084 2024 +2.1% Growth
New Jersey #98 1,610 2022 +13.5% Growth
Louisiana #77 998 2022 10.6% Decline
Connecticut #88 588 2022 +42.9% Growth
New Hampshire Unranked 166 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #94 715 2022 13.2% Decline
Massachusetts #97 1,273 2022 +14.3% Growth
Kansas #141 537 2023 41.3% Decline
New York #78 3,860 2022 +5.7% Growth
South Carolina #130 701 2022 8.5% Decline
Tennessee #112 1,017 2023 +7.8% Growth
Missouri #139 1,026 2021 13.3% Decline
Indiana #175 1,068 2022 16.9% Decline
Maine #110 195 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #83 158 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #161 315 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #132 833 2023 2.1% Decline
North Dakota #114 141 2021 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #136 139 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #147 422 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #119 1,913 2022 20.2% Decline
Ohio #130 1,790 2022 9.5% Decline
Pennsylvania #102 2,050 2022 +6.0% Growth
Iowa #130 474 2022 +28.0% Growth
Michigan #126 1,272 2022 +14.3% Growth
Alabama #128 599 2023 12.2% Decline
Kentucky #132 503 2022 +26.5% Growth
Vermont Unranked 42 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #227 280 2023 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #91 197 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 23 2015 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
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