"triumphant, victorious"
Origin: Vietnamese
Language: Vietnamese
Khai
Does Khai flow with your last name?
A sleek, victorious name with Vietnamese roots
Vietnamese
American
Arabic
Modern
Bold
Minimalist
Unique
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Khai
Same sound, same style — different options
Meaning & Origin
"open, beginning"
Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
Language: Vietnamese
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Khai
See all →What the Khai report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Khai the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Khai
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Khai head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Khai
Khai (also written Khải) is a Vietnamese name meaning 'triumphant,' 'open,' or 'the beginning.' It stems from classical Chinese and Vietnamese literary traditions where it evoked victory and new starts. The name carries a feeling of brightness and achievement in Vietnamese culture, often chosen to express hopes for a child's future success.
Khai surged in English-speaking awareness when model Gigi Hadid and singer Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai in 2020, making the single-syllable 'K' name suddenly contemporary. The name also rides the broader trend of short, punchy names that work across cultures.
In Vietnamese culture, Khải is associated with triumph and auspicious beginnings. The name is used across gender lines in Vietnam, though in Western contexts it is gaining traction as a modern unisex or boy's name.
Historical Record
Khai first appeared in US Social Security records in 1977.
Over 3,006 babies have been named Khai in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Khai is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #949 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Khai became internationally recognized when Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik chose it for their child in 2020
- The Vietnamese word khải appears in the name of the Vietnamese city Khải Định
- Shares phonetic similarity with the Greek letter Chi (Χ)
Khai in Other Languages
Arabic
خي
Korean
카이
Chinese
凯
Japanese
カイ
Vietnamese
Khải
Popularity Over Time
#949
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Khai
K
Khai Hadid Malik
Other
2020
Daughter of supermodel Gigi Hadid and singer Zayn Malik, whose birth name popularized the spelling in Western culture
K
Khải Định
Royalty
1885
The 12th emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam, who reigned from 1916 to 1925
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Byron
Boy
"barn dweller, farm settlement"
#884
Brennan
Boy
"descendant of Braonán, tearful one"
#1,058
Everest
Boy
"ever high, the highest"
#847
Kaisen
Boy
"modern invented name"
#901
Devon
Boy
"poet, bard"
#960
Compare Khai with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 1
- Popularity Rank
- #949
- Total SSA Count
- 240
- Cultural Origins
- Vietnamese American Arabic
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Khai
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Khai
Phonetic neighbors that share Khai's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Khai fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Khai is also used as a girl name, ranked #3665.
View Khai as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Khai →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Khai with...
Same Origin Names (Vietnamese)
See all Vietnamese names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Khai
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Khai and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Khai sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Byron
Boy
Old English byre + tun origin
"barn dweller, farm settlement"
#884 in US
Brennan
Boy
Irish Gaelic origin
"descendant of Braonán, tearful one"
#1,058 in US
Everest
Boy
English origin
"ever high, the highest"
#847 in US
Kaisen
Boy
American English origin
"modern invented name"
#901 in US
Devon
Boy
Brythonic Celtic origin
"poet, bard"
#960 in US
Jakob
Boy
Hebrew origin
"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"
#1,123 in US
Maurice
Boy
Latin geographical origin
"from Mauritania"
#932 in US
Jagger
Boy
Old English origin
"peddler, pack-horse driver"
#848 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Khai's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Khai
What does the name Khai mean?
"triumphant, victorious" (from Vietnamese). "open, beginning" (from Sino-Vietnamese). Khai (also written Khải) is a Vietnamese name meaning 'triumphant,' 'open,' or 'the beginning.' It stems from classical Chinese and Vietnamese literary traditions where it evoked victory and new starts. The name carries a feeling of brightness and achievement in Vietnamese culture, often chosen to express hopes for a child's future success.
What is the origin of the name Khai?
Khai has Vietnamese, Sino-Vietnamese, American, and Arabic origins. In Vietnamese, it means "triumphant, victorious". In Sino-Vietnamese, it means "open, beginning".
Is Khai a boy or girl name?
Khai is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #949. As a girl name, it is ranked #3665. Khai is more commonly used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Khai?
Khai is currently ranked #949 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Khai?
Popular middle name pairings include Khai James, Khai Alexander, Khai William, Khai Elliot, Khai Nathaniel, Khai River, and Khai Miles.
What are good sibling names for Khai?
Names that pair well with Khai as siblings include Nova, Zara, Luca, Remi, Jade, Silas, and Mila.
How many syllables does Khai have?
Khai has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Khai a common or rare name?
Khai is moderately common, ranked #949 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.
What boy names are similar to Khai?
Browse all middle names, sibling names, or similar names.
About the Name Khai
Khai is a boy name with Vietnamese, American, and Arabic origins . The name means "triumphant, victorious" in Vietnamese .
Is Khai a boy or girl name? Khai is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #949 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #3,665. Khai is more commonly used as a boy name.
Khai is currently ranked #949 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Khai has 1 syllable, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Khai include Khalil, Khalid, Khaza, Khari, Khamari . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Vietnamese Names
Browse all names with this origin
K
Names Starting with K
More boy names like Khai
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis