Given name & surname
Khai
“unlike the others; unusual”
Khai is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “unlike the others; unusual.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “unlike the others; unusual.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
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
Khai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,670
- 3,184 boys · 486 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 399 babies
- 2025
- 207
- #1,179 for boys · #4,410 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +75%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 88% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 175 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,179 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 76.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 32 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California and Florida and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (19 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,860 as a first name in 2020; 1,202 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.
Khai’s family of names
Khai has a related form in Khay. Khai has a related form in Khae. Khai has a related form in Khaye.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Khai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Canyon
“from the footpath” · “from the deep ravine”
92% boys · 8% girls
Khalon
“a strong warrior”
>99% boys
Shayan
“unintelligible speaker”
>99% boys
Drayce
“resembling a dragon”
>99% boys
Sultan
“a ruler” · “one who is bold”
>99% boys
Dash
“a charming man; one who is fast”
98% boys · 2% girls
Kaelem
“an honest man”
>99% boys
Seven
“the seventh-born child” · “refers to the number; the seventh-born child”
77% boys · 23% girls