{{Infobox name | name = Kai | pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|'|k|ai}} | gender = Unisex | origin = various | meaning = various | region = various | variant = Cai, Kye | related names = Kaj, Kay }}
The name '''Kai''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|aɪ}} has various origins and meanings in different cultures:
* In Estonian, Kai is a female name derived from Katherine. * In Persian, Kai, or Kay, is a male name, meaning "king". It is also the name of a mythological shah (king) in the ''Shahnameh''. * In Japanese, ''kai'' has a number of meanings, including "ocean" (海), "shell" (貝), etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=English<>Japanese |url=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 |work=Dictionary |access-date=2012-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Official list of Kanji permissible for name use |url=http://kosekimoji.moj.go.jp/kosekimojidb/mjko/PeopleSearch |access-date=2012-02-27 |archive-date=2012-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111111350/http://kosekimoji.moj.go.jp/kosekimojidb/mjko/PeopleSearch/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * In Hawaiian, Kai is the word for “sea” in its language.
==Notable people with the given name "Kai" include==
*Kai Aareleid (born 1972), Estonian writer *Kai Alaerts (born 1989), Belgian skier *Kai Alexander (born 1997), British actor *Kai Altair (born 1984), American musician *Kai Althoff (born 1966), German multimedia artist *Kai Ambos (born 1965), German judge *Kai Normann Andersen (1900–1967), Danish composer *Kai Arzheimer (born 1969), German professor *Kai Asakura (born 1993), Japanese mixed martial artist *Kai Atō (1946–2015), Japanese actor *Kai Behrend, German mathematician *Kai Belton, American politician from Connecticut *Kai Bird (born 1951), American journalist *Kai Bjorn (born 1968), Canadian sailor *Kai Böcking (born 1964), German television presenter *Kai Bracht (born 1978), German ski jumper *Kai Brodersen (born 1958), German historian *Kai Luke Brümmer (born 1993), South African actor *Kai Brünker (born 1994), German footballer *Kai Aage Bruun (1899–1971), Danish writer *Kai Budde (1979–2026), German gamer *Kai Bülow (born 1986), German footballer *Kai Bumann (1961–2022), German conductor *Kai Burger (born 1992), German footballer *Kai Cenat (born 2001), American YouTuber *Chang Kai (born 1964), Chinese physicist *Chen Kai (born 1993), Chinese footballer *Kai Chang (born 2000), Jamaican discus thrower *Kai Cipot (born 2001), Slovenian footballer *Kai Compagner (born 1969), Dutch rower *Kai Corbett (born 2002), Spanish footballer *Kai Correa (born 1988), American baseball coach *Cui Kai (born 1982), Chinese track and field athlete *Cui Kai (footballer) (born 1987), Chinese footballer *Kai Curry-Lindahl (1917–1990), Swedish zoologist *Deng Kai (born 1959), Chinese politician *Kai Diekmann (born 1964), German journalist *Kai Donner (1888–1935), Finnish linguist *Kai Ebel (born 1964), German sports journalist *Kai Eckhardt (born 1961), German musician *Kai Edwards (born 1998), Australian swimmer *Kai Edwards (basketball) (born 1997), Dutch basketball player *Kai Eide (born 1949), Norwegian diplomat *Kai Ekanger (1929–2018), Norwegian politician *Kai Ellis (born 1980), American football player *Kai Engelke (1946–2025), German poet, writer, and music journalist *Kai Arne Engelstad (born 1954), Norwegian speed skater *Kai Ephron (born 1965), American film director *Kai T. Erikson (1931–2025), Austrian-born American sociologist *Kai Ewans (1906–1988), Dutch-American musician *Kai Fagaschinski (born 1974), German musician *Kai Falkenberg, American lawyer *Kai Falkenthal (born 1965), German yacht racer *Kai G. Farley (born 1973), Liberian politician *Feng Kai (born 1974), Chinese speed skater *Kai Fischer (born 1934), German actress *Kai Fjell (1907–1989), Norwegian painter *Kai Abdul Foday (1924–2013), Sierra Leonean politician *Kai Forbath (born 1987), American football player *Kai Fotheringham (born 2003), Scottish footballer *Kai Frobel, German ecologist *Kai Gehring (born 1977), German politician *Kai Gehring (footballer) (born 1988), German footballer *Gong Kai (1222–1307), Chinese politician *Kai Greene (born 1975), American bodybuilder *Kai Greene (soccer) (born 1993), American soccer player *Kai Grjotheim (1919–2003), Norwegian chemist *Kai Gronauer (born 1986), German baseball player *Kai Gullmar (1905–1982), Swedish composer *Kai Haaskivi (born 1955), Finnish footballer *Kai Häfner (born 1989), German handball player *Kai Hahto (born 1973), Finnish drummer *Kai Hansen (born 1963), German musician *Kai Harada (born 1999), Japanese rock climber *Kai Havertz (born 1999), German footballer *Kai Heerings (born 1990), Dutch footballer *Kai Helenius (born 1931), Finnish diplomat *Kai G. Henriksen (1956–2016), Norwegian businessman *Kai Herdling (born 1984), German footballer *Kai Erik Herlovsen (born 1959), Norwegian footballer *Kai Hermann (born 1938), German journalist *Kai Hesse (born 1985), German footballer *Kai Hibbard (born 1978), American activist *Kai Hietarinta (born 1932), Finnish businessman and ice hockey executive *Kai Hirano (born 1987), Japanese footballer *Kai Hirschmann, English civil servant *Kai Ho (1859–1914), Hong Kong barrister *Kai Holm (1896–1985), Danish actor *Kai Holst (1913–1945), Norwegian activist *Kai Honasan, Filipino singer-songwriter *Kai Hormann (born 1974), German computer scientist *Kai Horstmann (born 1981), English rugby union footballer *Kai Horwitz (born 1998), Chilean skier *Kai Hospelt (born 1985), German ice hockey player *Hou Kai (born 1962), Chinese politician *Hu Kai (born 1982), Chinese sprinter *Kai Huckenbeck (born 1993), German speedway racer *Kai Huisman (born 1995), Dutch footballer *Kai Hundertmarck (born 1969), German cyclist *Kai Ishii (born 1993), Japanese rugby union footballer *Kai Ishizu (born 2002), Japanese footballer *Kai Ishizawa (born 1996), Japanese boxer *Kai Jahnsson (born 1965), Finnish sport shooter *Kai Jensen (1897–1997), Danish athlete *Kai Johan Jiang (born 1965), Swedish-Chinese businessman *Kai Johansen (1940–2007), Danish footballer *Kai Johansson (born 1969), Finnish swimmer *Kai Jones (born 2001), Bahamian basketball player *Kai Kahele (born 1974), American politician *Kai Kalima (1945–2023), Finnish politician *Kai Kamaka III (born 1995), American mixed martial artist *Kai Kantola (born 1987), Finnish-American ice hockey player *Kai Kara-France (born 1993), New Zealand mixed martial artist *Kai Karsten (born 1968), German sprinter *Kai Kasiguran (born 1985), American soccer player *Kai Kazmirek (born 1991), German decathlete *Kai Kennedy (born 2002), Scottish footballer *Kai Killerud, Norwegian handball player *Kai Klefisch (born 1999), German footballer *Kai Knagenhjelm (1898–1987), Norwegian civil servant *Kai Knudsen (1903–1977), Norwegian judge *Kai Ko (born 1991), Taiwanese actor and singer *Kai Kobayashi (born 1993), Japanese racewalker *Kai A. Konrad (born 1961), German economist *Kai Koreniuk (born 1998), Dutch-American soccer player *Kai Kovaljeff (born 1985), Finnish ski jumper *Kai Aage Krarup (1915–2013), Danish equestrian *Kai Krause (born 1957), German software designer *Kai Kroeger (born 2002), American football player *Kai Krüger (born 1940), Norwegian jurist *Kai Kyllönen (born 1965), Finnish athlete *Kai Lagesen (born 1965), Norwegian footballer *Kai Langerfeld (born 1987), Canadian rower *Kai Larsen (1926–2012), Danish botanist *Kai Laukkanen (born 1975), Finnish motorcycle racer *Kai Lawonn (born 1985), German computer scientist *Kai Lee, Chinese-American scientist *Kai Leete (1910–1995), Estonian ballet and folk dancer *Kai Lehtinen (born 1958), Finnish actor *Kai Lenny (born 1992), American surfer *Li Kai (born 1989), Chinese footballer *Kai Li (born 1954), Chinese-American computer scientist *Kai Li (businessman) (born 1962), Chinese-American businessman *Liang Kai (1140–1210), Chinese painter *Kai Lightner (born 1999), American climber *Kai Lindberg (1899–1985), Danish politician *Ling Kai (born 1986), Singaporean singer-songwriter *Kai Linnilä (1942–2017), Finnish editor *Liu Kai (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Locksley (born 1996), American football player *Kai Londo (1845–1896), Sierra Leonean warrior *Kai Lossgott (born 1980), German-South African artist *Lu Kai (198–269/270), Chinese military general *Lü Kai (died 225), Chinese politician *Lu Kai (badminton) (born 1991), Chinese badminton player *Kai Luibrand (born 1994), German footballer *Kai Lykke (1625–1699), Danish noble *Ma Kai (born 1946), Chinese politician *Kai Mahler (born 1995), Swiss skier *Kai Matsuzaki (born 1997), Japanese footballer *Kai McKenzie-Lyle (born 1997), English footballer *Kai Meriluoto (born 2003), Finnish footballer *Kai Merk (born 1998), German footballer *Kai Metov (born 1964), Russian singer-songwriter *Kai Michalke (born 1976), German footballer *Kai Miki (born 1993), Japanese footballer *Kai Møller (1859–1940), Norwegian politician *Kai Montinola (born 2006), Filipino model and actress *Kai Müller (born 1988), German canoeist *Kai Mykkänen (born 1979), Finnish politician *Kai Nacua (born 1995), American football player *Kai Nielsen (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Niemi (born 1955), Finnish motorcycle racer *Kai Nieminen (born 1950), Finnish writer *Kai Nurminen (born 1969), Finnish ice hockey player *Kai Nürnberger (born 1966), German basketball player *Kai Nyyssönen (born 1972), Finnish footballer *Kai O'Donnell (born 1999), Australian rugby league footballer *Kai Ortio (born 1965), Finnish ice hockey player *Kai Oswald (born 1977), German footballer *Kai Outa (1930–2002), Finnish weightlifter *Kai Øverland (1931–1975), Norwegian politician *Kai Owen (born 1975), Welsh actor *Kai Owen (rugby union) (born 1999), English rugby union footballer *Kai Owens (born 2004), American skier *Kai Ozaki (born 1987), Japanese skier *Kai Paananen (born 1954), Finnish businessman *Kai Pahlman (1935–2013), Finnish footballer *Kai Pearce-Paul (born 2001), English rugby league footballer *Kai Peterson (born 1962), German actor *Kai Pfeiffer (born 1975), German visual artist *Kai Pflaume (born 1967), German television presenter *Kai Pirttijärvi, Finnish athlete *Poh Soo Kai (born 1930), Singaporean doctor *Kai Pröger (born 1992), German footballer *Kai Puolamäki, Finnish physician *Qidiao Kai, Chinese philosopher *Qin Kai (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Rapsch (born 1978), German musician *Kai Rautio (born 1964), Finnish ice hockey player *Kai Remlov (born 1946), Norwegian actor *Kai Reus (born 1985), Dutch cyclist *Kai Rimmel (born 1952), Estonian politician *Kai Risholt (born 1979), Norwegian footballer *Kai Røberg (born 1973), Norwegian footballer *Kai Rooney (born 2009), English footballer *Kai Rossen, German chemist *Kai Rüder (born 1971), German equestrian *Kai Rüütel (born 1981), Estonian singer *Kai Ryssdal (born 1963), American radio journalist *Kai Sakakibara (born 1996), Australian cyclist *Kai Salomaa, Finnish-Canadian computer scientist *Kai Sasaki (born 1998), Japanese footballer *Kai Sato (born 1984), American entrepreneur *Kai Sauer (born 1967), German-Finnish diplomat *Kai Schäfer (born 1993), German badminton player *Kai Schoppitsch (born 1980), Austrian footballer *Kai Schramayer (born 1968), German wheelchair tennis player *Kai Schumacher (born 1979), German pianist *Kai Schwertfeger (born 1988), German footballer *Kai Scott (born 1970), American attorney *Kai Selvon (born 1992), Trinidadian sprinter *Kai Setälä (1913–2005), Finnish professor *Kai Shibato (born 1995), Japanese footballer *Kai Siegbahn (1918–2007), Swedish physicist *Kai Simons (born 1938), Finnish professor *Kai Sjøberg (1936–1994), Norwegian footballer *Kai Smith (born 2004), Emirati cricketer *Kai Somerto (1925–1969), Finnish diplomat *Song Kai (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Soremekun, Canadian filmmaker *Kai Sotto (born 2002), Filipino basketball player *Kai Staats (born 1970), American filmmaker *Kai Starr (born 1964), American author *Kai Steffen (born 1961), German footballer *Kai Ove Stokkeland (born 1978), Norwegian football manager *Kai Stratznig (born 2002), Austrian footballer *Kai Strauss (born 1970), German singer *Kai Suikkanen (born 1959), Finnish ice hockey player *Sun Kai (born 1991), Chinese footballer *Kai Swoboda (born 1971), Australian canoeist *Kai Syväsalmi, Finnish ice hockey player *Tan Kai (born 1973), Chinese computer technician *Tang Kai (born 1996), Chinese mixed martial artist *Kai Cheng Thom, Canadian writer *Tian Kai (died 199), Chinese general *Kai Tier, Australian comedian *Kai Toews (born 1998), Japanese basketball player *Kai Tracid (born 1972), German disc jockey *Kai Trewin (born 2001), Australian footballer *Kai Trump (born 2007), American social media personality *Kai Twilfer (born 1976), German merchant *Kai Ueda (born 1996), Japanese baseball player *Kai van Hese (born 1989), Dutch footballer *Kai Verbij (born 1994), Dutch speed skater *Kai von Warburg (born 1968), German rower *Kai Wagner (born 1997), German footballer *Wang Kai (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Walter (born 1973), German canoeist *Kai Warner (1926–1982), German musician *Kai Wartiainen (born 1953), Finnish architect *Kai Wegner (born 1972), German politician *Kai Wehmeier (born 1968), German-American philosopher *Kai Wessel (disambiguation), multiple people *Kai Whittaker (born 1985), German politician *Kai Widdrington (born 1995), British dancer *Kai Wiesinger (born 1966), German actor *Kai Ashante Wilson, American author *Kai Winding (1922–1983), Danish-American musician *Kai Wright, American journalist *Kai Wucherpfennig, German-American biologist *Kai Wulff (born 1949), American actor *Xing Kai (born 1989), Chinese footballer *Xu Kai (born 1995), Chinese actor *Kai Yearn (born 2005), English footballer *Yee Seu Kai, Malaysian politician *Kai Zeiglar (born 1981), American football player *Kai Zen (actress) (born 2012), American actress *Zhang Kai (born 1982), Chinese basketball player *Zhang Kai (lawyer), Chinese lawyer *Zheng Kai (born 1986), Chinese actor *Zong Kai, Chinese Paralympic athlete *Zou Kai (born 1988), Chinese gymnast === Cai === *Cai Cortez (born 1988), Filipino actress *Cai Emmons (1951–2023), American author *Cai Evans (born 1999), Welsh professional rugby union player *Cai Griffiths (born 1984), Welsh rugby union player *Cai Gundelach (1891–1954), Danish equestrian *Cai Hegermann-Lindencrone (1807–1893), Danish general and politician *Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb (born 1968), Finnish politician
==Fictional characters== * General Kai, the main antagonist in ''Kung Fu Panda 3'' * Kai Anderson, a character in American Horror Story: Cult * Kai, a character in ''Ninjago'' * Kai, one of the nine default heroes featured in ''Minecraft'' * Kai, one of the eight major characters and is a member of the Pickles team in Pixar's ''Win or Lose'' *Kai Chen, a character in the television series ''Power Rangers Lost Galaxy'' *Kai Hiwatari, a character in ''Beyblade'' *Kai Lung, a character in an eponymous novel series written by Ernest Bramah *Kai Shiden, a character in ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' *''Shahnameh.'' Kai is the son of Kay Qobād and is succeeded by his grandson Kay Khosrow.
==Notable people with the surname "Kai" include== *Akihito Kai (born 1987), Japanese handball player *Asami Kai (born 1987), Japanese actress *Bertrand Kaï (born 1983), New Caledonian footballer *Carole Kai (born 1944), American entertainer *Dakota Kai (born 1988), New Zealand professional wrestler *Haji Kai (born 1971), Tanzanian politician *Kai Feng (1906–1955), Chinese politician *Kentaro Kai (born 1994), Japanese footballer *Konomi Kai (born 1993), Japanese long jumper *Lani Kai (1936–1999), American singer *Leilani Kai (born 1960), American professional wrestler *Marie Kai (born 1980), Japanese actress *Masato Kai (born 2003), Japanese volleyball player *Natasha Kai (born 1983), American soccer player *Roland B. Kai, Liberian politician *Shingo Kai (born 1963), Japanese water polo player *Shintaro Kai (born 1981), Japanese golfer *Shouma Kai (born 1997), Japanese actor *Sibo Kai, Indian politician *Takuya Kai (born 1992), Japanese baseball player *Tomomi Kai (born 1983), Japanese shogi player *Toshimitsu Kai (born 1956), Japanese golfer *Yasuhiro Kai (born 1968), Japanese judoka *Yukiko Kai (1954–1980), Japanese manga artist
== See also == *Kai (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for "Kai" *Kay (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for "Kay"
== References == {{reflist}} {{given name|type=both}}
Category:English unisex given names Category:Japanese-language surnames Category:Japanese masculine given names Category:Masculine given names Category:Danish masculine given names Category:Estonian feminine given names Category:Feminine given names Category:Norwegian masculine given names Category:Scandinavian masculine given names Category:Chinese masculine given names Category:Finnish masculine given names