Khai

♀ Girl

Pronounced KY /ˈkaɪ/High

Meaning: Vietnamese 'victory, triumph, to open/unfold'; also a modern spelling of Kai, used for girlsMedium

In 30 seconds: One bright syllable of triumph: Khai is Vietnamese for victory and opening — and a sleek modern spelling of Kai. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik gave it celebrity sparkle for a daughter.

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Origin MediumVietnamese, American

MeaningVietnamese 'victory, triumph, to open/unfold'; also a modern spelling of Kai, used for girls

U.S. rank (2025)#4410 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births32 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 485

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

Khai is a Vietnamese word meaning 'victory, triumph' or 'to open, unfold', traditionally masculine there. It also serves as a modern American spelling of Kai (Hawaiian 'sea', and a global crossover). Celebrity use (Gigi Hadid's daughter Khai) brought it to girls.

It registers thinly for girls in recent records. Rare, victorious at the root, and crisply modern.

Did you know? Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai in 2020 — a name Gigi linked to her grandmother and to Arabic-and-Vietnamese roots, putting the spelling in the spotlight.

Overall data confidence 72%

Vietnamese name references — Khai — word meaning

Variations

KaiKhaiaKhaii

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Khai…

Kai— the global crossover name behind the spelling

Kaia— a fellow short vowel-bright favorite

Skye— the companion one-syllable nature name

Zaia— another sleek modern pick

Explore names like Khai

By thememodern short-and-sweet vietnamese

By meaningVictory

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Khai mean?

Khai is Vietnamese for 'victory, triumph, to open'; it also serves as a modern spelling of Kai.

How do you pronounce Khai?

It's said KY /ˈkaɪ/ — a single syllable.

Is Khai a boy or girl name?

Khai is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Khai?

Khai is a rare name for girls in the U.S.