Kai

Kai is a boy name of Hawaiian origin, ranked #57 in popularity, meaning The sea.

What Kai means

The sea.

Kai is short — 3 letters, and ends on a vowel, which tends to make a name sound open and carry well when called across a room.

Where Kai comes from

Hawaiian names are drawn from the natural world and from ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi's rich vocabulary for sea, sky, and light. Many are poetic descriptions rather than single words.

Kai is recorded as Hawaiian in origin. Browse other Hawaiian names.

How popular is Kai?

Kai is ranked #57, near the outer edge of the top hundred. Names here are often on the way up or on the way down, so this is the band where a name can feel fresh and established at the same time.

The character of Kai

We group Kai under Ocean and water and the sea — an unusual pairing, and often the reason a name feels the way it does. Each theme opens a full list of names sharing it.

Themes: Ocean, Water

Names like Kai

These share Kai's themes, origin, or both — closest first.

  • Moana — Ocean; the deep sea.
  • Arnav — The ocean; the sea.
  • Dylan — Son of the sea.
  • Tao — Great waves.
  • Cove — A sheltered bay.
  • Maren — Of the sea.
  • Nerissa — From the sea.
  • Pelagia — Of the open sea.
  • Saylor — Boat captain; of the sea.
  • Kehlani — The sea and sky.
  • Kaito — Ocean; to soar, to fly.
  • Adrian — Of the dark sea.

More Hawaiian names

  • Anuhea — Cool, soft fragrance.
  • Kalani — The heavens; a chief.
  • Alani — Orange tree.
  • Keanu — The cool mountain breeze.
  • Kehlani — The sea and sky.
  • Lani — Sky; heaven.
  • Leilani — Heavenly flower; royal child.
  • Makoa — Fearless and brave.
  • Malie — Calm and gentle.
  • Mauna — Mountain.