Comments for KAI (1):

This name is unique, but not outrageous. Makes me think of a strong, sensible person.

-- Anonymous User  1/16/2005

This name is quite popular in Germany. It´s pronounced "Ky". [noted -ed]

-- Destry  4/13/2005

Kai could also be derived from Old High German "kamph" meaning "fight". A strong name for somebody who never gives up. In northern Germany it is also the nickname of Nikolaus or Katharina.

-- Evaria  8/9/2005

I like this name a lot, though only on boys. It's not really a girls' name to me. But maybe that's only because I've never met a girl with that name.

-- Evaria  8/9/2005

I like this name for a boy, it's becoming very popular in the UK now.

-- Anonymous User  8/9/2005

Kai sounds like the name of a cold-hearted guy. I've never heard of a girl with this name though.

-- Krystal4ever  8/12/2005

In Finnish 'kai' means 'perhaps', and is only used as a boys' name.

-- Elizabeta  8/27/2005

As far as I know, "Kai" is the Scandinavian short form of "Katharina". However, here in Germany where I live, it's used as a boy's name.

-- Paganqueen  10/1/2005

In New Zealand, this is a slang word for food.

-- wiswina  12/3/2005

Kai isn't a slang word for food in New Zealand - it's the word for food in Maori, New Zealand's native language.

-- KiwiBunnz  2/11/2007

Kai comes from the name Halkai. Kai means a place of sanctory or it can mean chicken/food (in Greek). It has a lot of different meanings.

-- kaig  1/10/2006

You can also write it like "Kaj".

-- Dahlis  2/8/2006

I have a friend named Kaisha pronounced Kay-sha and she shortens her name to Kai pronounced like Kai. I can't find the name Kaisha on this site. Yet it's a great name.

-- Anonymous User  2/20/2006

It is an interesting name and definitely rising in popularity. I personally prefer it for a boy.

-- Anonymous User  5/26/2006

I absolutely love this name, whether for a boy or girl. I first saw it on a game on the n64 called Harvest Moon, used for a boy working on a vineyard. When I saw it, I fell in love with it. Seems like an easy person to get along with, fun-loving, but still rough-around-the-edges. Imagine my delite when I realized it's the first half of my middle name, Kaitlin. I've wanted to be called Kai as a nickname of sorts, but it just never really happened. :( Really great though.

-- keegankira  8/20/2006

My name is Kaitlin and my nickname is Kai or Kaikai but I pronounce it KAY.

-- xOosweetiepiieoOx  9/11/2006

I have seen this name used as a nickname for Malachi. Kai is a great name for a boy.

-- Anonymous User  9/27/2006

Listen to the German pronunciation of Kai here:
http://www.nordicnames.de/Aussprache.html.

-- _satu_  10/24/2006

Don't like the name. For me it is just so out of time. In Sweden we pronounce it KAY.

-- Frozten  1/5/2007

Kai Sturm is a character´s name from the TV series "Die Motorrad-Cops: Hart am Limit". He was played by Jens-Peter Nünemann.

-- Maggie_Simpson  1/5/2007

In the animated television series "Avatar: The Last Airbender" the Fire Nation has a traditional one-on-one battle called an Agni Kai, or Fire Duel.

-- Emmasj  3/20/2007

I seem to recall a boy's name in one of Christian Andersen's fairy tales, but I can't remember which one. Kai Hansen is also a very famous German heavy metal guitarist. It is definitely a very rare name, and to me it sounds very "outworldly".

-- angolmois  4/22/2007

•In Hawaiian Kai means "Ocean" or "Sea"
•In Navajo Indian Kai means "Willow tree"
•In Scandinavian and Welsh Kai means "Keeper of the keys"
•In Greek Kaia means "Earth"
•In Norwegian Kaia means “Blessed, Pure, Holy”
•In South African Kai means "Beautiful"
•In Persian Kai means "Ruler" or "King"
•and in Maori, the native polynesian people of New Zealand, Kai means "Food" (hmm, yummy!)
•Caius likely derives from the Etruscan word "cai" meaning "glad".
•In Welsh Mythology Kay was one of the knights of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend.

-- Anonymous User  5/21/2007

Lovely name! A strong and beautifully sounding name! It is short, clear, easy to pronounce in any language, and it has so many and only positive meanings. The name Kai is also historical. Caius, from where Kai originates, was a very common name in the Roman Empire. Famous bearers were Caius Julius Caesar, Pope Caius (283-296), etc.
The name Kai could sound historic but also very modern, charming and masculine. What a smart and original name!

-- Anonymous User  5/21/2007

Jennifer Connely has a son named Kai. Cindy Crawford's daughter is named Kaia. Kai is the name of the boy in the "Snow Queen" fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

-- ThinkerMe  5/27/2007

The name Kai - makes me think of an intelligent, witty, handsome and cosmopolitan boy or man. It is very popular in Germany and Northern Europe. The Italian version of the name is spelled Caio (from Caius). Kai is getting more and more popular in England, Canada and Australia.

-- Anonymous User  5/27/2007

I LOVE this name. A strong, handsome-sounding name that is unique without being too over-the-top.

-- Laurisgirl  1/2/2008

Kai reminds me of the bald-headed little boy named Caillou (KIE-yoo) on Noggin.

-- jasmineenimsaj  3/4/2008

It originated in Northern Europe and means "Warrior" or "Fighter". Someone that never gives up.

-- Anonymous User  7/15/2008

Filipino-African actress Sharon Leal and Bev Land have a son Kai Miles Land, born October 2001.

-- Emilie007  9/3/2008

As one who has been the bearer of this name, as my first name, I have found over fifty meanings from around the world. The list I had compiled has been lost in the shuffle, so I will submit what I can remember. Beginning with "my" ancestry I have found that the meaning in German is the Sea, and in Danish is Earth (like the Greek 'gaia') and in Scottish is Fire. In other cultures, my travels have taught me that in Native American it means Willow Tree, Stone, and Friend (depending on the tribe) and in Welsh it means Keeper of the Keys, in Hawaiian it means Ocean, and in Japanese it means Forgiveness. This is the extent of my memory at present, but I do know that when I had the list, there were so many more and all with different meanings. With that said, it's not easy to say what it really means, but I try to make it mean only the best things as I am an American and not terribly tied to "my" ancestors. I am living my life so that Kai will mean infinity and peace and wholeness, in American anyways!

-- quitepossibly  3/15/2009

The pronunciation is interesting as it is quite similar to the sacred sound om (pronounced aum like ahh) or god, gaia, all of which share the ahh sound. Kai has a crisp consonant it begins with, not unlike like flipping a lightswitch each time it is said. At the quantum level of reality, such as may be perceived in deep meditative trance states the primordial silence and darkness of oblivion with which light and sound of the manifest worlds can be experienced as they dance and chase each other into and out of existence at a rate so fast that only our consciousness can capture such perception, the sound one hears is quite more of a feeling throughout the body and resonates in harmony with the om/god/kali/kai/ahhh sound. Sorry if that's a bit beyond mere pronunciation!

-- quitepossibly  3/15/2009

My personal impression of the name Kai is not static, as I have found impressions change as often as new information arrives and old information is discarded. Imagine my surprise to learn it was contained in the Greek term triskaidekaphobia, which means 'fear of the number thirteen!' As you can imagine, I don't take it all too literally. It generally means very earthy and natural sorts of things which is perfect for me as I am simply a natural human with no religious or political or social views. Kai is a perfect name for me with it's natural meanings and my own love for all life on Earth and the Earth itself, which like the name Kai can be either masculine or feminine, such as Kelly or Jessie. Thank you for considering my experiences!

-- quitepossibly  3/15/2009

Sorry so long winded, but I do spend a fair 'amount' of time as Kai. In my life, I've met more women than men with the name, and at the same time I get a more masculine impression of the name (not the women who bear it!)

-- quitepossibly  3/15/2009

Just Googling around, I cannot find corroboration for this possible etymology, BUT I recall seeing the German name linked to the word "Kaiser," which made some sense to me. "Cesar" in French and Spanish might be its equivalents.

-- gbcallahan  7/4/2009

My son is called Kai and I love it. However it's sad how overused it's becoming.

-- Anonymous User  11/11/2009

Comments for KAI (2):

This is the first half of my son's name. Kai is VERY popular in Hawaiian. Can be used for lots of names. My son's name is Kainalu which means ocean wave. We also know a Kaiola, a Kainoa, Kaiemi, Kainani, etc.

-- paigealoha  11/8/2005

My name is Kai. I'm a girl (32 years old). My parents saw the name in a book and so... I live in Switzerland. It's difficult to find other Kai's.

-- kai73  2/13/2006

I pronounce it k-AY. I've also seen it spelled "Cai" and I kinda prefer it spelled that way.

-- Keg  6/21/2006

In my opinion, this name suits a guy better. And every time I think of this name, I think of a guy who's had emotional damage.

-- KaiSilvaPhantom  12/11/2006

Comments for KAI (3):

Kai Johkfer is an author.

-- libbygirl  10/7/2006

This is my favourite name ever! In my opinion Kai is better suited to a boy. I also really like the meaning and Hawaiian is an awesome language!

-- FirChlis  1/29/2007

A gorgeous name for an amazing girl. Of course, I might be a little biased seeing as it's my cousin's name.

-- Anonymous User  4/21/2007

Kai can also be spelled "Kiah." I have a good friend with this name. His full name, Jordan Kiah Hochstetler, means "Descended Sea High-Dwelling."

-- Atarah Derek  7/14/2007

It means "sea" in Japanese as well.

-- Anonymous User  8/8/2007

There is a Mortal Kombat character named Kai. :)

-- aquaspirit96  9/10/2007

It sounds like a good name for a dog, but it seems like more of a dog's name than a person's name (unless Kai is short for something). I usually don't like one-syllable names, but of all the one syllable names, this is one of the better ones, in my opinion.

-- Pippin  4/9/2008

It is sometimes written as meaning "man of the sea".

-- ticktick1905  6/7/2008

Kai is the name of the drummer from the Japanese band the GazettE.

-- hizakigrace  7/21/2008

Kai is my nickname. I think it's an awesome name. My friend gave me the name when we were teenagers, he hated my name Erica so he thought Kai was cool not too girly, different, sexy, and fun and it fits me just right.

-- kaisalas  11/27/2008

Short, yet beautiful name! Reminds me of Koi!

-- coolcatevan9  11/3/2009

Key: Meaning/History Usage Pronunciation Famous Bearer Personal Impression Other

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