Given name & surname
Chai
“one who gives life”·“a giver of life”
Chai is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who gives life” (Hebrew) and “a giver of life” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who gives life” (Hebrew) and “a giver of life” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1977. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Chai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 647
- 384 boys · 263 girls
- Most popular year
- 1994
- 26 babies
- 2025
- 18
- #8,468 for girls · #10,918 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +89%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 12 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,468 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. It also appeared in 6 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,729 as a first name in 2020; 3,857 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.
Chai’s family of names
Chai has a related form in Chaim. Chai has a related form in Chae. Chai has a related form in Cahyim.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 24
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Chai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shaddai
“my destroyer” · “my protective spirit”
33% boys · 67% girls
Prestyn
“from the priest's town”
61% boys · 39% girls
Hananiah
“Yah has been gracious”
45% boys · 55% girls
Amaree
“having great strength; a builder” · “one who will be forever beautiful”
52% boys · 48% girls
Kamaree
66% boys · 34% girls
Peniel
“face of God”
41% boys · 59% girls
Kadence
“rhythmic and melodious; a musical woman”
27% boys · 73% girls
Aiman
45% boys · 55% girls