Kai name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning, origin, similar names and Australian ranking history.
The name Kai
Story and style
Kai is a short name for boys.
For parents, Kai is easy to imagine in everyday life: simple enough for a child, but still polished enough to grow with them.
At a glance
The quick version
Best rank13th in 2024
Listed years17/18 years
TrendRising
First listed2008
StyleFamiliar, Rising, Short
Length3 letters
More about Kai
Background notes
What style of name is Kai?
Kai feels familiar, rising and short. It sits naturally beside names like Jack: names that feel related in sound, style or popularity.
Names similar to Kai
If you like Kai, you might also like:
Kai ranking history in Australia
Published national top-100 ranking by year
Kai has risen strongly in Australia. Its most recent listed rank was 23rd in 2025, keeping it comfortably inside the current top 30 for boys.
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 23rd |
| 2024 | 13th |
| 2023 | 41st |
| 2022 | 30th |
| 2021 | 37th |
| 2020 | 56th |
| 2019 | 46th |
| 2018 | 54th |
| 2017 | 48th |
| 2016 | 41st |
| 2015 | 62nd |
| 2014 | 63rd |
| 2013 | 92nd |
| 2012 | 51st |
| 2011 | Not in top 100 |
| 2010 | 76th |
| 2009 | 47th |
| 2008 | 87th |