Cai
Cai is a boy's name of Welsh origin.
Meaning
Rejoice, or key bearer (in Welsh tradition).
Origin and history
Cai is a traditional Welsh name associated with Arthurian legend, where Sir Cai (Kay) was a key knight of the Round Table. It is also used as a spelling variant of the Latin name Kai or a short form of Caius, meaning 'rejoice'. In the United States, it is a concise, modern-sounding choice that has seen increased usage in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
1,450 babies in the United States have been named Cai since 1880. It ranks #3277 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1438.
States where it is most popular
- TX (23.1 %)
- FL (22.4 %)
- CA (18.2 %)
- GA (8.6 %)
- NC (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 5 |
| 1990-2000 | 60 |
| 2000-2010 | 266 |
| 2010-2019 | 620 |
| 2020-2029 | 499 |
Fun facts
- In Welsh mythology, Cai was Sir Kay, one of King Arthur's earliest and most prominent companions.
- While rooted in Welsh and Latin, Cai overlaps in pronunciation with similar short names in Scandinavian, Hawaiian, and East Asian traditions.