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Baby names

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

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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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Scarletforya · 30/12/2015 18:43

It's common. sorry!

greengreenten · 30/12/2015 18:46

Know a dog called Kai...

It's a bit hard, short and abrupt for a DC sorry.

howtorebuild · 30/12/2015 18:47

I associate the name with Rooney.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 30/12/2015 18:56

Im certain I don't speak for all British people as there are plenty of Kais about but I think it's one of the worse boys names out there. Chavvy doesn't even begin to cover it, but that just my opinion, massive difference between opinion and fact.

2015nearlyover · 30/12/2015 19:19

On a par with Kayden

SheGotAllDaMoves · 30/12/2015 19:22

My friend calls her son this as a diminutive of Malachai.

GladysTheGolem · 30/12/2015 19:23

Intial thought it always Kai Rooney.
Look at how famous Brooklyn & Romeo Beckham are getting, among a certai. Sort of person...would you be alright with that being everyone's immediate go to thought? Think Kai is about 4/5 so he'd be getting his own Twitter or whatever when yours hits secondary school!

SheGotAllDaMoves · 30/12/2015 19:23

Malachi - Jewish name.

RJnomore1 · 30/12/2015 19:25

I only ever knew the name as my best friend as a teenagers dad, who was Scandinavian and I loved it. It was on my list for a boy.

Then the bloody Rooneys ruined it and now there's loads everywhere and yes it's no longer s name I could call a child of mine. Good job I won't be having any more eh!

greengreenten · 30/12/2015 19:56

From a 'British' viewpoint it's a created name and not indigenous, unless I'm missing summat.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/12/2015 21:59

green

Kai has Welsh origins in Welsh (as well as German/Scandinavian and Hawaiian) so it is fairly indigenous to the British Isles.

op - English people, middle class English people are snobby about it, as they are Kyle, a Scottish Gaelic name.

RandomMess · 30/12/2015 22:02

I like it as a boy's name, but know a girl called Kai and don't like that at all!!!

Clobbered · 30/12/2015 22:03

I know a Cai, short for Caius. Not remotely chavvy.

ThursdayLastWeek · 30/12/2015 22:03

It means dog in Cornish.
People call their dogs it here.

artisanroast · 30/12/2015 22:33

It's a bit chav. Unfortunately to me that's the connotation it has...

Sparklycat · 30/12/2015 22:41

Very chavvy

Sofiria · 30/12/2015 22:55

It used to make me think of either Arthurian legend or The Snow Queen. It's a really nice name but now a bit overused and yes, chavvy. Which is a shame.

MissBattleaxe · 30/12/2015 23:00

How is it Welsh? There is no letter K in the Welsh language. Maybe there's a cai but I've never come across it personally.

FlippertyJibbit · 30/12/2015 23:02

My DS is called Kai.

No, really. That is my son's name, he's 3 years old and he suits it perfectly.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/12/2015 23:15

MissBattleaxe,

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.

guineapig1 · 30/12/2015 23:28

Lots of Cai's in West Wales. It is a fairly popular Welsh name.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/12/2015 23:30

I'm in South Wales guinea

5madthings · 30/12/2015 23:34

I know a kai, high school age now has a brother called zeb though I think zeb is short for something. Anyway they are lovely boys, and their parents are lovely as well.

The rooney using it would put me off but otherwise it's a perfectly fine name.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 30/12/2015 23:37

It's one of those names that I like the sound of but that, in RL, I've only heard with the phrase "ger ere ya littul shit" or similar in accompaniment.

It's a shame as it should be a nice name.

alltouchedout · 30/12/2015 23:39

It's lovely, but as it was the name of my auntie's daft darling of a dog when I was a child, for me it is forever a dog's name.

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