Kai (name)

Kai
Pronunciation	/ˈkaɪ/
Gender	Unisex
Origin
Word/name	various
Meaning	various
Other names
Related names	Cai, Kaj,

The name Kai or Cai /ˈkaɪ/ has various origins and meanings in different cultures:

In Basque, kai is a common word meaning "pier of a harbor"^{[citation needed]} and a variant of the first name Kaio (from the old Latin name Caius, meaning "happy").^{[citation needed]}
In Chinese, Kai is a very common given name with one of several meanings, most commonly "victory" (凯/凱), "start" or "open" (开/開). Kai is often used in names meaning "start" (啓) in Cantonese Chinese.^{[citation needed]}
In Estonian, Kai is a female name meaning "pier".^{[citation needed]}
In Finnish, Kai is a common male name, Finnish form of Kaj.^{[citation needed]}
In Frisian, Kai is a short form of Frisian "Kaimbe", meaning "warrior".^{[citation needed]}
In German, Kai has the same meaning as in Frisian.^{[citation needed]}
In Hawaiian, Kai is a unisex name which means "sea".^{[citation needed]}
In Hebrew, some consider Kai to be an acronym for "holiness of the land of Israel".^[1]
In Japanese, kai has a number of meanings, including "ocean" (海), "shell" (貝), "restoration" and "recovery".^[2]^[3]
In Kono and Kissi, Kai is a male name; it is also a paramount chief title or prefix that means king of kings.^{[citation needed]}
In Maori, kai means "food" or "meal".^[4]^{[clarification needed]}
In Swahili, Kai is a female name meaning "lovable".^{[citation needed]}
In Swedish, Kai is a male name meaning "rejoice".^{[citation needed]}
In Tamil, kai means vegetables or cooked vegetables.^{[citation needed]}
In Thai, kai means "chicken" and is used as a nickname.^{[citation needed]}
In Welsh, Kai is a popular given name normally spelled "Cai". It is used as an independent name in Wales due to its use in the Arthurian legend of Sir Kay.^{[citation needed]}

In Northern Ireland, data indicated that Kai experienced a significant rise in popularity as a male given name from 2002 to 2003.^{[citation needed]} It has become popular in the United Kingdom, with many children born in the mid to late 1990s given the name.^{[citation needed]} While it is typically a male given name, in recent years it has become popular for girls as well.^[5]

People with the given name Kai

Kai Alexander (born 1997) British actor
Kai Altair (born 1984), American musician
Kai Althoff (born 1966), German multimedia artist
Kai Bird (born 1951), American journalist
Kai Budde (born 1979), German gamer
Kai Diekmann (born 1964), German journalist
Kai Donner (1888–1935), Finnish linguist
Kai Eckhardt (born 1961), German musician
Kai Eide (born 1949), Norwegian diplomat
Kai Erikson (born 1931), American sociologist
Kai Fagaschinski (born 1974), German musician
Kai Fjell (1907–1989), Norwegian painter
Kai Forbath, NFL Kicker
Kai Gehring (born 1977), German politician
Kai Greene (born 1975), American bodybuilder
Kai Grjotheim (1919–2003), Norwegian chemist
Kai Hahto (born 1973), Finnish drummer
Kai Hansen (born 1963), German musician
Kai Harada (原田海, born 1999), Japanese rock climber
Kai Havertz (born 1999), German footballer
Kai Holm (1896–1985), Danish actor
Kai Holst (1913–1945), Norwegian resistance fighter
Kai Horwitz (born 1998), Chilean Olympic alpine skier
Kai Johansen (1940–2007), Danish football player
Kai Kara-France (born 1993), New Zealand mixed martial-artist
Kai Karsten (born 1968), German Olympic sprinter
Kai Kazmirek (born 1991), German decathlete
Kai Krause (born 1957), German software designer
Kai Langerfeld (born 1987), Canadian Olympic Rower
Kai Laukkanen (born 1975), Finnish motorcycle speedway rider
Kai Londo (1845–1896), Sierra Leonese warrior king
Kai Mosaker (Trym Torson; born 1974), Norwegian drummer
Kai Nielsen (sculptor) (1882–1924), Danish sculptor
Kai Nielsen (philosopher) (born 1926), Canadian philosopher
Sixten Kai Nielsen (born 1978), Danish artist
Kai Niemi (born 1955), Finnish motorcycle speedway rider
Kai Ko (born 1991), Taiwanese actor and singer
Kai Ogasawara (born 1994), Japanese actor and dancer of the group Bullet Train (band)
Kai Owen (born 1975), Welsh actor
Kai Pahlman (1935–2013), Finnish football player
Kai Reus (born 1985), Dutch cyclist
Kai Risholt (born 1979), Norwegian football player
Kai Rüütel (born 1981), Estonian opera singer
Kai Ryssdal (born 1963), American radio journalist
Kai Siegbahn (1918–2007), Swedish physicist
Kai Stephens, British musician
Kai Tracid (born 1972), German DJ and producer
Kai Wiesinger (born 1966), German actor
Kai Winding (1922–1983), Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer
Kai Wulff, American actor
Wang Kai (王凯, born 1989), Chinese football player
Wang Kai (王锴, born 1983), Chinese football player
Wang Kai (born 1982), Chinese actor
Zheng Kai (郑恺, born 1986), Chinese actor
Zhang Kai (张凯, born 1982), Chinese basketball player
Sun Kai (孙凯, born 1991), Chinese football player
Qin Kai (秦凯, born 1986), Chinese diver
Lu Kai (鲁恺, born 1991), Chinese badminton player
Li Kai (李凯, born 1989), Chinese football player
Hu Kai (胡凯, born 1982), Chinese sprinter
Cui Kai (崔凯, born 1982), Chinese track and field athlete
Feng Kai (冯凯, born 1974), Chinese speed skater
Deng Kai (邓凯, born 1959), Chinese politician
Ma Kai (马凯, born 1946), Chinese politician
Zou Kai (邹凯, born 1988), Chinese Olympic gymnast
Kai (카이, born 1994), member of Korean boy band Exo

People with the given name Cai

Cai Cortez (born 1988), Filipina actress, comedienne and model
Cai Evans (born 1999), Welsh rugby player
Cai Griffiths (born 1984), Welsh rugby player
Cai Gundelach (1891–1954), Danish equestrian

People with the surname

Asami Kai (甲斐麻美, born 1987), Japanese actress and model
Carole Kai (born 1944), American entertainer
Konomi Kai (甲斐好美, born 1993), Japanese long jumper
Leilani Kai (born 1960), American professional wrestler
Marie Kai (甲斐まり恵, born 1980), Japanese actress
Natasha Kai (born 1983), American soccer player
Shingo Kai (甲斐真吾, born 1963), Japanese water polo player
Shintaro Kai, Japanese golfer
Takuya Kai (甲斐拓也, born 1992), Japanese professional baseball player
Tomomi Kai (甲斐智美, born 1983), Japanese shogi player
Toshimitsu Kai, Japanese golfer
Yasuhiro Kai (甲斐康浩, born 1968), Japanese judoka
Yukiko Kai (花郁悠紀子, 1954–1980), Japanese manga artist

People using the mononym

Fictional characters

Kai Smith, a character from the animated TV series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
Bajoran Kai, fictional supreme religious figure of the planet Bajor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Kai, fictional character in "The Snow Queen", a tale by Hans Christian Andersen
Kai, a supporting character in Disney's Frozen, loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen character.
Kai, fictional character in the animated series The Legend of Korra
Kai (Akira), a character in the manga and 1988 anime film Akira
Kai, fictional character in the video games Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town and Harvest Moon 64
Kai, fictional character in the video game Heavenly Sword
Kai (LEXX), fictional character in the television series Lexx
Kai, fictional god in the Lone Wolf (gamebooks) series, and hence name of the order of warrior-monks known as the Kai Lords
Kai (Mortal Kombat), fictional character in the Mortal Kombat games
Kai Beezee Tentroy, a fictional member of the Polaris Patrol scout troop in the Time Machine stories published in Boys' Life during the mid-twentieth century.
Kai Booker, fictional character from the television series Being Erica
Kai Chen, fictional character in the television series Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
Kai Chisaki (治崎廻), fictional character from My Hero Academia
Kai Shimada (島田快), fictional character from Corpse Party
Kai Green, a minor character in Ben 10 and Ben 10: Omniverse
Kai Hiwatari (火渡カイ), fictional character in the anime and manga series Beyblade
Kai the Horseclaw, fictional bird in the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Kai Lung, fictional character in a series of novels by Ernest Bramah
Kai Toshiki (櫂トシキ), fictional character in the anime and manga series Cardfight!! Vanguard
Kai Sagano (嵯峨野カイ), fictional character in the anime and manga series Kizuna: Bonds of Love
Kai, fictional character in the video game Ōkami
Kai Leng, fictional character in the video game series Mass Effect
Kai Ichinose (一ノ瀬海), fictional character in the anime film and manga series Piano no Mori
Kai Miyagusuku (宮城カイ), fictional character in the anime Blood+
Kai Ozu (小津魁), fictional character of the Ozu Family in the television series Mahou Sentai Magiranger
Kai Shiden (カイ・シデン), fictional character in the anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam
The Kais, gods in the manga and anime Dragon Ball Z
Lee Wan Kai, fictional villain in two cross over episodes of American television series' NCIS: Los Angeles (season 1) and NCIS season 7.
Ukiko Kai, fictional character in the comic book series Kabuki
Kai Proctor, fictional character in the television series Banshee
Kai Parker, fictional character in the television series The Vampire Diaries
Kai, fictional character in the 2013 film 47 Ronin
Kai Anderson, fictional character in the TV series American Horror Story: Cult
Emperor, former Prince Kai, fictional character in the book series The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Kai Samezu (鮫津海), fictional character in the Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
Kai the Master of Pain, a Kung Fu Panda character

References

^ "My Shadow and I". Israel Today.
^ "English<>Japanese". Dictionary. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^ "Official list of Kanji permissible for name use".
^ "kai". Maori Dictionary. John C Moorfield.
^ "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2008-02-14. Kai has risen from rank 156 in 2002 to rank 94 in 2003....

This page or section lists people that share the same given name or the same family name.
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[1] "My Shadow and I". Israel Today.

[2] "English<>Japanese". Dictionary. Retrieved 2012-01-13.

[3] "Official list of Kanji permissible for name use".

[4] "kai". Maori Dictionary. John C Moorfield.

[5] "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2008-02-14. Kai has risen from rank 156 in 2002 to rank 94 in 2003....

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