Kai

[PrettyInDecadence]

Is it a bit too Rooney-esque? I love it but have had bad reactions from others towards it. FWIW I've never met a little Kai, so have no preconceptions about the name, I just think it sounds nice!

Sorry I'm afraid the first thing that springs to my mind is the Rooneys. It's not a name that I dislike but it has definitely been tarnished!

I know a few boys named Kai , I like it

It means 'food' in Maori (eg Kai moana - seafood) so might sound a bit odd to NZers as a name, but not outrageously so. And if you don't plan for your baby to live in NZ then you probably don't need to worry anyway!

I never know how it is pronounced.

Oh scroobious..... I've got that children's song "kai moana" and Hiwi the Kiwi going round and round in my head now :)

I know 3. I think the ones I know were quite possibly named after baby Rooney.

It's pronounced to rhyme with sky, Exit

I know an adult Kai (early 30s) named after Sir Kai (sometimes written Sir Kay) in Arthurian legend. I don't know any others young or old. He did get a few sniggers in the far east where it sounds the same as the words for chicken and prostitute apparently!

To me it says "England flag hanging out the window" BUT my boy has a name which according to these boards is a footballer name, and we love it, he loves it and it suits him so frankly who cares. Go for it... I like it more now I know what it means!

To me it is a bit too near the carp but probably OK if you have a very long surname.

I like it.

My nephew's called Kai, I think my sister said it was 'Ocean' in Hawiian or something? I love the name, think it's really lovely. Screw the Rooneys, your DS will make the name his own.

Think Kai in Germany is a shortening of Kaiser?

This is a much better response than I was expecting! DS is Jesse, which often gets mixed reviews on here so I'm not overly bothered what people think, I just don't want a name that has a glaringly obvious connotation IYSWIM?

It's in with the Kayden Jayden names in my mind which I personally am not keen on but nothing wrong with it.

I like Jesse :-)

Kai means "food" in Maori. If he ever goes to NZ people will die of laughter at his name. Sorry, just thought I'd point that out

I know a guy in Germany called Kai and I have a female friend called Kai. I think it's a lovely unisex name, and because I know adults with this name, I never think of the rooney's when I hear it

I know a lot of Kai's and I'm not fussed. Even without the Rooney undertones it sounds horrible to me.

I'm afraid I got put off this name because of the rooneys too but their son was born only a wee bit before my DS.
I ended up giving my son a longer name that has the sound 'Kai' at the beginning and it suits him down to the ground! I really couldn't imagine him being called anything else.

I've never met another one and I get lots of compliments on his name (although mumsnet would probably hate it!)
I think if you like it, go for it. Or if you're not sure, have a look at similar names.

The only Kai I know has a brother called Cruz. Don't like it.

I don't know a Kai but its the start of my sons name. same spelling but different pronunciation which was my fault as well as the bloody Rooneys!

I don't mind it as a friend of mine calls my son it as a short form of his name. Don't see her often so I'm not too bothered.

If you like it go for it.

I really like it, sounds very strong and Scandinavian to me. I know it has been associated with the Rooney's recently, but it would be a shame to let that put you off, I doubt they'll be headline news when your son is older.

In England it is a very naff name, imo - on a par with Jayden, Kayden etc.

I think it might be one of those names where teachers will expect him to be challenging! (not saying they should).