How Many People Are Named Kai?
Complete statistics for the name Kai: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Kai is a modern name that's becoming more popular. There are about 73,687 people named Kai in the US today, and it's so rare that only 1 in 4,478 Americans shares this name. It peaked in 2022 with over 5,700 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 3 is traditionally associated with creativity, self-expression, and a natural gift for communication. People connected to the number 3 are often seen as optimistic and socially magnetic, with a strong drive to bring joy to those around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 13All 74,652 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2022Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Kai Through the Generations
The name Kai has seen a steady rise in popularity, entering the US top 10 names list for the first time in recent years. With 74,652 total births across all time, the current population of 73,687 is quite close, indicating a relatively high survival rate. The majority of those named Kai are under 30, with 93% of the total population fitting into this category, making it a distinctly modern choice. This trend is particularly interesting given that the peak year for births was 2022, suggesting a surge in popularity coinciding with a cultural shift towards this name. The fact that the number of people over 60 is only 434, while those aged 30-60 number 4,603, shows a clear generational divide, with the name being much more prevalent among younger demographics.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Kai
The name Kai has various origins and meanings in different cultures:In Estonian, Kai is a female name derived from Katherine. In Persian, Kai, or Kay, is a male name, meaning "king". It is also the name of a mythological shah (king) in the Shahnameh. In Japanese, kai has a number of meanings, including "ocean" (海), "shell" (貝), etc. In Hawaiian, Kai is the word for “sea” in its language. In Welsh, Cai is a male name derived from the Latin Caius.…
Full list on Wikipedia →📄 About the Name Kai
How Many People Have the Name Kai?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,337 people in the United States currently share the name Kai. That works out to roughly 1 in every 247,905 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Kai a Common or Rare Name?
Kai is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Kai Mean?
Kai means "sea, rejoice, or victory" and comes from Hawaiian, Japanese, Welsh origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Kai in SSA data, approximately 89% are male and 11% are female.
When Was Kai Most Popular?
The name Kai reached peak popularity in 2022, with 5,724 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Kai?
Approximately 1,337 people named Kai live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,337. That works out to roughly 1 in 247,905 Americans.
Is Kai a rare name?
Kai is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 247,905 Americans has this name.
What does the name Kai mean?
Kai means "sea, rejoice, or victory" and comes from Hawaiian, Japanese, Welsh origins.
Is Kai more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 89% of people named Kai are male and 11% are female.
When was Kai most popular?
Kai peaked in 2022 with 5,724 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.