what do british people think of the name Kai?

[coffeeghost]

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?

[SummerMonths]

I think it's Wayne Rooney's son's name...

[Fourormore]

For me it's because the only people I know who have chosen that name for their child are what people would describe as "chavvy".

[GoldPlatedBacon]

I thought it was an Hawaiian name? It is associated with people of a lower socio economic background or people who may identify or are identified as 'alternative'. I don't know why.

Names = social status tends to be a British thing.

[Flossiesmummy]

The only ones I have had experience of have been a bunch of reprobates. If you like it though, go for it!

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

I know a lovely little chap called Kai. His parents are not remotely chavvy.

[TheBestChocolateIsFree]

There's a bit of an unwritten rule that almost any name (especially boys' name) beginning with K is "common". No idea why. The Kardashians' flagrant K-abuse has made that prejudice even worse.

However I don't think that rule (which is silly anyway) applies if you are actually foreign.

A mate's child is called Kai. I think it's rather nice, and not so uncommon that you'll be spelling it absolutely every time.

[whatdoIget]

I know 2 Kais who are not at all chavvy

[fidel1ne]

It makes me think of the boy in The Snow Queen.

[Llouh]

Chavvy

[SecretlyChartreuse]

To me it's a Welsh name. It's a lovely name.

[M48294Y]

I know two Kais (aged 11 and 9) and they are both delightful middle class boys from very definitely middle class families.

[PurpleTreeFrog]

There's a bit of an unwritten rule that almost any name (especially boys' name) beginning with K is "common".

You mean "kommon"

[vestandknickers]

Bit chavvy. Sorry, you did ask!

[M48294Y]

(both mixed race white British/West Indian background, if that is relevant)

[ClaudiaWankleman]

I recently met one (man in his 20s) for the first time. I had never even heard of the name before.

I assumed it was short for Kyle. When I found out it wasn't, I disliked it even more. It sounds like a good name for the green Power Ranger.

[SevenSeconds]

I like Kai. That might date back to my first crush over 25 years ago!

[Whatsername24]

I know a 19 year old Kai who is lovely and had quite a unique name when he was born, but it's since become a favourite name with chavs (probably thanks to the Rooneys).

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

I like it because it was a character in a tv show I was a fan of: Kai in Lexx, last of the Brunnen-G.

[RunRabbitRunRabbit]

I know two Kai's.

One is middle class, a bit posh really, and is non-white dual nationality.

The other is white British and his family are what people would probably call chavvy.

They are both primary school age and I never think about their names. They are who they are.

[Vixxfacee]

Nobody ever admits to having a son named Kai on MN do they.

[enderwoman]

My British son who's born in Germany has Kai as a middle name. I wanted a German name that was short and it fit the bill perfectly. In Germany it's not a chavvy name but Wayne Rooney picking it as his son 's name (my son is much older ) and the Kardashians abuse of the letter K has made K names unpopular.

[ChessieWebb]

I really like Kai - it sounds really fresh and nice! enderwoman - I adore it as a middle name :)

[DioneTheDiabolist]

In Northern Ireland Kai is sectarian shorthand for Kill All Taigs. Every time I see it I think of this.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Sorry, Kill All Irish.

[sooperdooper]

I like it :) I've only ever known one person called Kai, a friend at uni who's very clever, slightly alternative and great fun & not 'chavvy' in the slightest - I knew him before the Rooneys used the name so don't associate it with them particularly