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Baby names

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

Original poster

Austin or Kai

64 replies

YourNavyScroller · 01/07/2025 14:28

Name opinions please! I am 9 months pregnant and we have been set on the name Austin for our little boy for a few months. We even got a few personalised bits with the name on and told friends and family. We would be calling him ‘Aussie’ for short (which I love).
We decided to make a short list of 3 or so names just incase he didn’t look like an Austin when he was born and we are really liking the name Kai now also! We love that it means sea/ocean in Hawaii and goes nicely with our last name. The other name we like is Brody but we have just had a nephew called Beaudi so think it would be too similar. Which is nicer: Austin or Kai?

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EmotionallyWeird · 02/07/2025 08:14

I don't love either, but of the two, probably Kai. Austin always makes me think of cars, and I also used to know one very bossy child with that name who put me off a bit. The only Kai I have met was adorable.

Kai is absolutely a "proper name" and has a long history in the German-speaking world. Just because it hasn't been used in the UK for as long doesn't make it "made-up." Hardly anyone was called French-origin names like Michelle and Suzanne before the 60s and they are pretty mainstream now.

Original poster
YourNavyScroller · 02/07/2025 10:47

MyBusyTurtle · 02/07/2025 04:45

How about Makai? It means 'towards the sea' in Hawaiian (from Google, I'm not Hawaiian). Way less common than Kai, but you still get the Kai nickname!

Bodhi (edit: just realised this would be said the same as Beaudi oops)

Jett

Finn

Hudson

Arlo

Mason

Zane

Edited

That is an interesting one. I love Arlo but feel as though it’s very common now!

OP posts:
ExercicenformedeZ · 02/07/2025 11:14

NeedZzzzzssss · 02/07/2025 03:15

Ignorant. It is if you're Hawaiian. Or is a name only a 'proper' name if it's a pretentious English one more appropriate for an 90 year old??

Show quote history

I don't think OP or her husband are Haiwaiian, though. Over here, it is the sort of name given by people like Daniella Westbrook. The sort of people who have turkey teeth and crushed velvet grey interiors and signs saying 'live love laugh' on the wall.

Emanwenym · 02/07/2025 11:22

Koa is awful. The name Cai is popular in Wales. I like the name Guy.

Nowheretobeseen · 02/07/2025 18:55

I like both, but I’d probably go with Austin.

Pinkissmart · 02/07/2025 22:46

Moveoverdarlin · 01/07/2025 15:11

Sorry I think Kai is really chavvy.

What an odd thing to say

Pinkissmart · 02/07/2025 22:47

Agree , can just hear council estate mums shouting out Kai ! Austin is lovely

And another shitty comment

boujeewooje · 02/07/2025 22:49

Inthesmallclouds · 01/07/2025 22:12

God I hate when MN think it’s ok to use the word chavvy. 🙄 as if you’re the epitome of class.

much prefer Kai

Some of these comments are grim.

Like ‘eww that name is popular with shudder some working-class people therefore it’s chavvy and disgusting’

Kay286 · 02/07/2025 23:24

Pinkissmart · 02/07/2025 22:47

Agree , can just hear council estate mums shouting out Kai ! Austin is lovely

And another shitty comment

accurate though

precededfortune · 03/07/2025 21:50

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Crumpet727 · 03/07/2025 21:59

Both are dreadful. Please find something better for the poor mite.

RobertaFirmino · 03/07/2025 23:56

Kai is awful. Austin is awful and reads far too much like 'autism' which could be problematic (the schoolyard is the cruellest place).

Beaudi though. Is that actually a proper name or is it a youneek spelling?

Spanglemum02 · 05/07/2025 22:22

As PP says, Cai is Welsh and popular in Wales.

driedmangoplsx · 08/07/2025 19:53

I vote Kai. It's short and sweet

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