Kai (name)

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


 * In Estonian, Kai is a female (and very rarely male) name meaning "pier" or "quay".
 * 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), "open" (開), "restoration" and "recovery".
 * In Mandarin Chinese, kai can mean different things depending on the tone and character, such as “to open” ( 开)(kāi).
 * In Māori, kai is not a name, but it means "food" or "meal".
 * In Northern Ireland, data indicated that Kai experienced a significant rise in popularity as a male given name from 2002 to 2003.
 * Kai was among the five most popular names for newborn boys of Asian descent in the American state of Virginia in 2022.

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 Paulsen (1947–2002), Norwegian journalist
 * 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

Fictional characters

 * Kai, the main antagonist from Kung Fu Panda 3
 * Kai, a character in Ninjago
 * Kai, one of the nine default heroes featured in Minecraft
 * Kai from Mortal Kombat series
 * Kai, a character in the television series The White Lotus
 * Kai (kay) Kāvus (Persian: کی‌کاووس; Avestan: 𐬐𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬌 𐬎𐬯𐬀𐬥 Kauui Usan); Kai-Káús or Kai-Kaus is a mythological shah of Greater Iran and a character in the Shahnameh. Kai is the son of Kay Qobād and is succeeded by his grandson Kay Khosrow.
 * Kai, a character in the animated television series Deer Squad
 * Kai Booker, a character in the television series Being Erica
 * 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
 * Kai Ozu, a character in the television series Mahō Sentai Magiranger
 * Kai Samezu, a character in the television series Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
 * Kai Parker, a character in the television series The Vampire Diaries
 * Kai Anderson, a character in the television series ''American Horror Story'
 * Kai Mendoza, a character in the television series Almost Paradise
 * Kai Kamealoha, a character in the television Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
 * Kai Banks, a character in the animated television series Hailey's On It!
 * Kai Hiwatari (Hiwatari Kai), captain of the Blade Breakers and one of the main protagonists of the original three seasons of the Bakuten Shoot Beyblade anime series (2000-2005)

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