Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Honest opinions on Kai?

154 replies

Stripes123 · 01/09/2016 13:23

Hi Smile new here!

We both (my husband and I) have a very mixed heritage.

My husband is Japanese/Chinese.

I'm Scottish/English.

It means so many beautiful things, from each different culture. It also works really well in all 4.

What are your honest opinions on the name? It just seems so fresh, handsome and relatively unusual!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 30/04/2017 16:35

I know a 30 year old Kai. It's a beautiful name, not chavvy at all.

GraceBlish · 30/04/2017 16:28

Yeah I hate to sound pretentious or snobby but it's definitely chavvy where I live 😕 sorry!

CaipirinhasAllRound · 29/04/2017 19:36

Not everyone is familiar with celebs kids (who the hell knows daniella westbrook's kids names?!) names and that association will go in time.
If it fits your criteria and you like it, go with it. It's a perfectly nice name

ShowOfHands · 29/04/2017 17:37

I met a zombie called Kai once...

MaisyPops · 29/04/2017 17:34

Kai with your surname works beautifully.

I think it went through a phase of being used quite chavvy when the Rooneys used it. As a result a.few years later there were quite a few Kais who were little tykes. Less to do with the name and more to do with likely parenting of people who were influenced in their name choice by footballers. (Not saying everyone who uses the name did for that reason!)

There are many lovely Kais

MiniMaxi · 29/04/2017 15:42

I actually really like it but I do know it's not generally well regarded on Mumsnet, who knows in real life eh?!

thingsthatwedo · 29/04/2017 15:40

i have a Kai who is in his mid twenties. Really not Chavvy. hes lovely and always has been..... had some negative comments when we named him.. its more popular now. He loves it himself..

Sophronia · 02/09/2016 18:51

I actually like Kai, it reminds me of the Snow Queen, and I know a few German men with the name.

WankersHacksandThieves · 02/09/2016 10:58

I'm not a fan, but that predates the Rooneys et all.

I like Tom or Matt better. I know a Scots/Japanese heritage boy called Tom (short for Tomoki). It works really well.

As an alternative to Kai, how about Keir? Works well for you UK side but the R may be a problem for Asian family?

TheDowagerCuntess · 02/09/2016 09:54

Wow, three. That's a lot of Kais.

vvviola · 02/09/2016 09:41

Kai means food in Māori/NZ. Not a great name for a kid (so strictly, no, it doesn't work 'beautifully', cross-culturally)

And yet, in the Auckland suburb I lived in, I knew 3 kids called Kai.

Nzou1050 · 02/09/2016 09:35
Halo
EssentialHummus · 02/09/2016 08:27

Kai means food in Māori/NZ

Sorry dowager, hadn't heard the NZ connection and wondered why it reminded you of food!

WeetabixLorry · 02/09/2016 08:14

I have a cousin in his early 20s named Kai. He is a nice chap. He is into cars and sports but I hear he is also great at cooking.

It also reminds me of Kai Shun knives, its a Japanese brand of knives.

HairsprayBabe · 02/09/2016 08:06

Nzou Unfortunately not all teachers are as saintly as you...

SvalbardianPenguin · 02/09/2016 07:20

Kobe? Wasn't that where the big earthquake was maybe ten+ years ago which was responsible for computer prices going up because it's where a lot of the components were manufacturer I'll take my anorak hat off now

Nzou1050 · 02/09/2016 04:55

Bold fail. Hopefully clear that the first bit of my comment is a quote.

Nzou1050 · 02/09/2016 04:54

•If I was a teacher, I would see that name on the class list and the warning bells would be going off.

It screams trouble maker who's parents think they gave life to the next messiah.*

What a horrible comment. Personally I really like it. I am a teacher and I've taught one Kai (no behavioural issues!). I've taught plenty of Matts and Toms who have been disruptive!

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 02/09/2016 04:51

Mind you, I can't say anything - my given name is traditionally a male name in Finland. I chose to anglicise it when we moved here, as I bloody hate it.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 02/09/2016 04:49

Kai isn't a Finnish name, I'm originally from that neck of the woods and I've never, ever met a Finnish Kai. It LOOKS okay when it's paired with a Finnish surname, I suppose.

Sorry, I'm being difficult here Grin

RhinestoneCowgirl · 02/09/2016 04:45

I know 1 adult and one child Kai, they both have Finnish heritage.

ScarletForYa · 02/09/2016 04:36

North Dublin. Kai is definitely common. Kai goes toRylee, Jayden, Jake and Lily-Mae.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 02/09/2016 04:26

I agree with a PP that Baby Names is harsher than AIBU sometimes - you need to have bollocks of steel to post on here.

TheDowagerCuntess · 02/09/2016 00:36

Hmm, Hummus, no?

Kai means food in Māori/NZ. Not a great name for a kid (so strictly, no, it doesn't work 'beautifully', cross-culturally).

yeOldeTrout · 01/09/2016 22:25

I like Kai. There is so much worse out there.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread