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Baby names

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Original poster

what do british people think of the name Kai?

77 replies

coffeeghost · 30/12/2015 17:30

Heyo!
someone in another thread told me that they think Kai is a nice name if you have a German or Scandinavian background. (which is the case with me) So I don't really know what British people think or rather why they think it's a "chavy" name. How come?

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Omashu · 15/02/2020 16:37

I have always loved it and I don’t think of it as a ‘chavvy’ name.

I hate to admit it (because I don’t like the term) but the only name I would class as ‘chavvy’ are names hyphenated with the likes of Rose, May, Grace etc.

Pjrobin · 15/02/2020 15:15

Kai is a beautiful name.
KAI (gender neutral) This chill little name is multicultural. In Hawaiian, Kai refers to the "sea." In Native American, it refers to the "willow tree." It also means "graceful." The sea represents life while the willow tree represents stability, strength, growth and harmony.
I picked this name for my son. I am British. I working class citizen and it would be ashame for any individual to cast negative judgement on it.
However to those who do... I'm sure within this world there is also someone else with your name who you consider a chav.

GabiSolis · 03/01/2016 15:26

I really don't like it I'm afraid. It's nothing to do with the fact that it's considered 'chav', it's just not a name I like.

MamaLazarou · 03/01/2016 13:15

Sounds like a Northern Irish person saying 'cow'.

IoraRua · 01/01/2016 18:39

Its much better than a lot of frilly posh names that pop up on MN.
Plus there is the Snow Queen link!

Conundrumparpapumpum · 01/01/2016 18:34

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Conundrumparpapumpum · 01/01/2016 18:33

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BaronessBomburst · 01/01/2016 16:08

I know a Kai. Only his mum wanted an alternative spelling and called him Kay.

Alisvolatpropiis · 01/01/2016 15:45

Sir Kay I thought?

ApollO88 · 01/01/2016 15:30

Isn't it arthorian? Wasn't sir Kai a knight of the round table? I thinks a great name

UninventiveUsername · 01/01/2016 15:00

I think it's a lovely name.

tuilamum · 01/01/2016 14:59

Always loved the name Kai, people always judge don't worry about it you'll never please everyone

FlippertyJibbit · 01/01/2016 12:57

To everyone stating it is a "chavvy" name, please don't tar them all with same brush.

It's not a name that makes a person, it's their personality and their upbringing, their morals and their principles.. I would hate to think a teacher or a potential employer of my DS would form their opinion of him just from reading his name..

emilybrontescorset · 01/01/2016 10:53

Sorry try as much as I can to be mutual about it but the only Kai's I know are from very chavvy backgrounds.

MoreTeaPenguin · 31/12/2015 16:53

I love it. Though we named DS Kai, so I'm a bit biased due to him being lovely. We liked the Welsh roots, and the connection to another similar name. Don't think we're particularly alternative or chavvy Smile

Cliffdiver · 31/12/2015 16:51

I don't like it, it sounds common.

Duckdeamon · 31/12/2015 16:40

Wayne rooney.

MissBattleaxe · 31/12/2015 16:37

Yes with a C, means rejoice. I've not met one but haven't met a Kai either, I'm sure boys with both names exist.

I quite like Cai with a C. Rejoice? That's lovely.

SilverOldie2 · 31/12/2015 16:21

chavtastic

TheLowKing · 31/12/2015 12:12

The Kais I've met have all been black or working class white.

What I think of it? It's easy to spell, unlikely to be shortened to anything except "K", and is seen as 'chavvy'.

NHKX2 · 31/12/2015 10:42

I would have assumed it was a Hawaiian name based on looking at it. Still don't like it much. Seems an attempt at being exotic when one is not exotic...

timelytess · 31/12/2015 00:03

OK, excuse my last post. Couldn't be more wrong. Arthur of the Britons is a much better place to look.

Sighs. I'm going to have to leave Baby Names. I just can't get it right. Never mind.

I vote for Kai anyway. Even with a K, its not actually common. And it sounds better than Kevin. Which also has a K.

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/12/2015 00:02

It's a nicely international name, more and more meaning from different cultures/languages are popping up. That's quite appealing, as the world gets smaller.

timelytess · 30/12/2015 23:57

Kai. Michael Gothard. Oliver Tobias's pal in Robin of Sherwood.

FlippertyJibbit · 30/12/2015 23:55

It has a number of meanings, in a number of different languages/cultures.

In Burmese, Kai means strong or unbreakable.

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