Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Chai
Chai
Pronounced KHY /ΛxaΙͺ/Medium
Meaning: From Hebrew chai, 'living, alive; life'; also Hindi chai, 'tea'; routes layeredLow
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Chai comes from Hebrew chai, 'living, alive; life' β one of the most cherished words in Jewish tradition (the toast l'chaim, 'to life!', and the Chai symbol). It is also the Hindi chai, 'tea' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, meaningful, cross-cultural name (the ch a soft throaty kh in Hebrew, so 'KHY'; nickname Chai).
In the U.S. it appears in Jewish and South Asian families. Rare, living-and-life at the root, and meaningful.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Chai mean?
Chai is Hebrew for 'living, alive; life'; it is also Hindi for 'tea'. The routes are layered.
How do you pronounce Chai?
It's said KHY /ΛxaΙͺ/ β one syllable (the ch a soft throaty kh).
Is Chai a boy or girl name?
Chai is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.
How popular is Chai?
Chai is a rare name in the U.S.