Given name & surname
Cai
“one who rejoices”·“of the earth”
Cai is a variant of Caius. One Latin interpretation is “one who rejoices.” In Danish use, Cai is a variant of Kaj. One Scandinavian interpretation is “of the earth.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Cai is a variant of Caius. One Latin interpretation is “one who rejoices.” In Danish use, Cai is a variant of Kaj. One Scandinavian interpretation is “of the earth.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Cai is a variant of Caius. An origin associated with Caius is Latin. In Danish use, Cai is a variant of Kaj. An origin associated with Kaj is Scandinavian.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1989. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,945
- 1,450 boys · 495 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 131 babies
- 2025
- 81
- #2,113 for boys · #8,457 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +9%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 76% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 69 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,113 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 24.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 12 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Florida and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,320 as a first name in 2020; 13,276 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cai’s family of names
In English usage, Cai as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with CHOI. In German usage, Cai has a related form in Kai. In Danish usage, Cai has a related form in Kaj.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Cai has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Cai
- Cai A. Vagn-HansenDanish jurist1911–1990
- Cai Hegermann-LindencroneDanish general and politician (1807-1893)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kazi
“a hardworking man”
79% boys · 21% girls
Kaicyn
94% boys · 6% girls
Cairo
“from the city in Egypt” · “one who is victorious; from the capital of Egypt”
95% boys · 5% girls
Canyon
“from the footpath” · “from the deep ravine”
92% boys · 8% girls
Kawhi
>99% boys
Caizen
>99% boys
Khmari
92% boys · 8% girls
Kaikoa
>99% boys