Kai (name) explained

Kai
Gender:	Unisex
Origin:	various
Meaning:	various
Region:	various
Variant:	Cai, Kye
Related Names:	Kaj, Kay

The name Kai 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. ^{[1] [2]}

Notable people with the given name "Kai" include

A

• 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

B

• 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 (born 1979), German gamer
• Kai Bülow (born 1986), German footballer
• Kai Bumann (1961–2022), German conductor
• Kai Burger (born 1992), German footballer

C

• 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

D

• Deng Kai (born 1959), Chinese politician
• Kai Diekmann (born 1964), German journalist
• Kai Donner (1888–1935), Finnish linguist

E

• 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 (born 1946), German writer
• Kai Arne Engelstad (born 1954), Norwegian speed skater
• Kai Ephron (born 1965), American film director
• Kai T. Erikson (born 1931), Austrian-American sociologist
• Kai Ewans (1906–1988), Dutch-American musician

F

• 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–??), Sierra Leonean politician
• Kai Forbath (born 1987), American football player
• Kai Fotheringham (born 2003), Scottish footballer
• Kai Frobel, German ecologist

G

• 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

H

• 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 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

I

• Kai Ishii (born 1993), Japanese rugby union footballer
• Kai Ishizu (born 2002), Japanese footballer
• Kai Ishizawa (born 1996), Japanese boxer

J

• Kai Jacobs (born 1995), Antiguan footballer
• 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

K

• 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 Krüger (born 1940), Norwegian jurist
• Kai Kyllönen (born 1965), Finnish athlete
• Kai Kamal Huening (born 2002), American singer, Member of Tomorrow X Together

L

• 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 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

M

• 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 Müller (born 1988), German canoeist
• Kai Mykkänen (born 1979), Finnish politician

N

• 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

O

• 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

P

• 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

Q

• Qidiao Kai, Chinese philosopher
• Qin Kai (disambiguation), multiple people

R

• 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

S

• 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

T

• 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 Twilfer (born 1976), German merchant

U

• Kai Ueda (born 1996), Japanese baseball player

V

• Kai van Hese (born 1989), Dutch footballer
• Kai Verbij (born 1994), Dutch speed skater
• Kai von Warburg (born 1968), German rower

W

• 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

X

• Xing Kai (born 1989), Chinese footballer
• Xu Kai (born 1995), Chinese actor

Y

• Kai Yearn (born 2005), English footballer
• Yee Seu Kai, Malaysian politician

Z

• 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

• Kai, a character in ‘’Beyblade’’
• Kai, a character in Ninjago
• Kai, one of the nine default heroes featured in Minecraft

Shahnameh. Kai is the son of Kay Qobād and is succeeded by his grandson Kay Khosrow.

• Kai Chen, a character in the television series Power Rangers Lost Galaxy
• Kai Lung, a character in an eponymous novel series written by Ernest Bramah

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
• 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"

Notes and References

1. Web site: English<>Japanese . Dictionary . 2012-01-13.
2. Web site: Official list of Kanji permissible for name use . 2012-02-27 . 2012-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111111350/http://kosekimoji.moj.go.jp/kosekimojidb/mjko/PeopleSearch/ . dead .