Dai

♀ Girl

Pronounced DY /ˈdaɪ/Medium

Meaning: Dai has several routes: a Welsh pet form of David ('beloved'); a Japanese element meaning 'great'; and a Chinese surname or given name whose meaning depends on the character. Used here for a girl; routes uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A one-beat name with many roots: Dai is Welsh (from David), Japanese, and Chinese (said 'DY'). Routes are uncertain, which we note.

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowWelsh, Japanese, Chinese

MeaningDai has several routes: a Welsh pet form of David ('beloved'); a Japanese element meaning 'great'; and a Chinese surname or given name whose meaning depends on the character. Used here for a girl; routes uncertain, which we note.

U.S. rank (2020)#13823 ↘ Falling

2020 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1999

Total births (all-time)≈ 85

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dai carries several traditions at once: in Wales it is a warm short form of David ('beloved'); in Japanese it can mean 'great'; and in Chinese it is a surname or given name that shifts with the character used. Used here for a girl, its route is uncertain, which we note. It reads crisp and global (said 'DY').

In the U.S. it appears only very rarely for girls. Rare, short, and cross-cultural.

Did you know? Dai is a Welsh pet form of David, a Japanese element for 'great,' and a Chinese name whose sense depends on the character — a compact name with many routes, which we note (said 'DY').

Overall data confidence 30%

References — Dai — Welsh David pet form / Japanese / Chinese; character-dependent; routes uncertain

Variations

DeiDaeDay

Nicknames

DaiDee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dai…

Rhys— a like short Welsh name

Cai— a like crisp one-beat name

Mai— a like short cross-cultural name

Wren— a like tiny modern pick

Explore names like Dai

By themeuncertain short welsh cross-cultural

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dai mean?

Dai is a Welsh pet form of David ('beloved'), a Japanese element for 'great,' and a Chinese name whose meaning depends on the character; routes are uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Dai?

It's said DY /ˈdaɪ/ — one syllable, rhyming with 'eye.'

Is Dai a boy or girl name?

Dai is used here as a girl's name; in Wales it is traditionally a boy's short form of David.

How popular is Dai?

Dai is extremely rare for girls in the U.S. — a short, cross-cultural pick.