Kai (name)

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Kai
Pronunciation Keye
Gender Unisex
Origin
Word/Name various
Meaning various
Other names
Related names Cai, Kaj
Look up Kai or kai in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Contents

The name Kai (play /ˈkaɪ/) has various origins and meanings in different cultures:

  • In Basque, Kai is a common word meaning "pier of a harbour" and a variant of the first name Kaio (from the old Latin name Caius)
  • In Burmese, Kai means "strong", or "unbreakable"
  • In Chinese, Kai is a given name which can be one of several characters. The most common Cantonese name is "繼" with five radicals for silkworms on sieve, meaning "unceasing (like silk)" or "following intimately (like silk)" or "continual (like silk)". The most common Mandarin name, "凱"， meaning "victory" or "triumphant".
  • In Estonian, Kai is a female name meaning "pier"
  • In Finnish, Kai is a common male name meaning "probably"
  • In Hawaiian, Kai means "ocean" or "ocean water"
  • In Hmong, Kai is a male name that is sometimes spelled Kha
  • In Japanese, The term 'Kai' in Japanese means 'restoration or recovery'[1] In Naruto(Anime) the word Kai means to 'release' a shortened form of Kaifuu which is to 'release seal' (literally). In Bleach(Anime) the word Kai is often used to refer to releasing a seal for instance 'Shikai' or 'Bankai'. It is also often a female name. [2]
  • In Māori, Kai means "food"
  • In Navajo, Kʼaiʼ means "willow tree"
  • In North Germanic languages, Kai means "keeper of the keys; earth". In Germanic languages, Kai means quay or safe harbor.
  • In Welsh, Kai is a popular given name normally spelt Cai, from the Arthurian legend of Sir Kay
  • In Yoruba, a Nigerian language, Kai means "love"
  • In Cornish, Kai means "dog", and is often used as a dog name

According to the 1990 United States Census, Kai is a very rare male first name. In Northern Ireland, data indicated that "Kai" experienced a significant rise in popularity as a male give name from 2002 to 2003. It has become popular in the UK, with many children born in the mid to late 1990s given the name. While it is typically a male given name, in recent years it has become popular among females as well. [3]

[edit] Given name

Kaj (the Germanic form of Kai)

[edit] Surname

[edit] Characters

[edit] References

  1. ^ "English<>Japanese". Dictionary. http://www.rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?sDict=on&H=PS&L=J&T=Kai&WC=none&FG=w&BG=b&S=26. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  2. ^ "English<>Japanese". Dictionary. http://www.rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?sName=on&H=PS&L=J&T=Kai&WC=none&FG=w&BG=b&S=26. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  3. ^ "Jack and Emma were the most popular first names in Northern Ireland in 2003" (PDF) (Press release). Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. 2004-01-02. http://www.groni.gov.uk/Publication/512004111434.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-14. "Kai has risen from rank 156 in 2002 to rank 94 in 2003...." 
  4. ^ http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ncis_los_angeles/recaps/105/recaps.php?season=1
  5. ^ http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ncis/recaps/707/recaps.php?season=7

[edit] See also

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