Kai
BoysBest rank #90 (2022) · ranked in 2 years
Kai has appeared in the popularity rankings across 2 of the tracked years since 2022.
It eased from #90 in 2022 to #95 in 2023.
It does not appear in the top ranks in the most recent data (2025).
At its peak year of 2022, Kai was given to 5,732 newborns.
Kai was most popular around 2022, making it characteristic of the 2020s generation.
Where Kai is most popular
In 2025, Kai was recorded in 48 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 3,931 births nationwide.
The largest share came from California at 626 births, 15.9% of the national total, where it ranked #87 that year.
By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 39.3% of Kai births, against 15.6% Northeast, 15.5% Midwest, 29.6% West.
State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Kai placed as high as #19 in Hawaii and as low as #421 in Mississippi.
The 3 jurisdictions without a figure are not zeros. SSA withholds any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a given state and year to protect privacy.
Top states, 2025
- 1California626 · #87 there
- 2Texas382 · #175 there
- 3Florida358 · #84 there
- 4New York235 · #127 there
- 5Pennsylvania132 · #169 there
Share by census region
- Northeast15.6%
- Midwest15.5%
- South39.3%
- West29.6%
Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kai a popular name?
- Kai reached a best rank of #90 in 2022 and has charted in 2 years.
- Where does Kai rank now?
- Kai does not appear in the top ranks in the most recent data (2025).
- Is Kai a boy or girl name?
- It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
- When was Kai most popular?
- Kai peaked around 2022.
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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)