UK boy's name
Kaihan
A Japanese name meaning "opening to the ocean".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kaihan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kaihan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3451, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 6 births.
This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2007 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Kaihan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kaihan ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 6 boys were registered as Kaihan.
- • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kaihan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3451
2021
Births in 2021
5
Latest year
Peak year
2011
6 births
Estimated living
32
2026
Meaning
What does Kaihan mean?
The name Kaihan has its roots in ancient Persian culture, dating back to the Achaemenid Empire which ruled over modern-day Iran and surrounding regions from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE. It is derived from the Old Persian words "kai" meaning king or lord, and "han" meaning soul or spirit. The combination of these words suggests the name Kaihan could have originally meant something along the lines of "noble spirit" or "kingly soul".
In early Persian literature and mythology, the name appears to have been associated with concepts of royalty, bravery, and spiritual strength. Several minor characters bearing the name Kaihan are mentioned in the epic poetry of Ferdowsi and other renowned poets of the time. However, no major historical figures with this exact name have been definitively recorded from that era.
The name Kaihan seems to have faded from prominence during the subsequent Islamic conquests and the rise of Arabic naming traditions in the region. It resurfaced sporadically in parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia over the centuries, though records are scarce.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Kaihan was a 9th-century Persian poet and scholar from the city of Nishapur, who wrote extensively on topics of philosophy and mysticism. Unfortunately, little is known about his life beyond his written works.
In the 15th century, a military commander named Kaihan served under the Timurid ruler Shah Rukh in the region of Khorasan. He is mentioned in several historical accounts for his bravery during military campaigns against rival factions.
During the 17th century, a renowned Persian calligrapher and artist named Kaihan Isfahani gained recognition for his intricate and beautiful works. He was born in 1604 in the city of Isfahan and is considered one of the masters of the Nasta'liq script.
In more recent times, a Kurdish writer and poet named Kaihan Kalhor, born in 1919 in Western Iran, made significant contributions to Kurdish literature and cultural preservation. His works often explored themes of Kurdish identity and struggles against oppression.
The name Kaihan, though relatively uncommon in modern times, still holds cultural significance and hints at its ancient Persian origins, conveying a sense of nobility, spirituality, and strength of character.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kaihan over time
The chart below shows babies named Kaihan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kaihan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaihan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kaihan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3393 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4117 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4430 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kaihan
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kaihan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kaihan in the UK right now?
In 2021, Kaihan was ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Kaihan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 6 babies registered as Kaihan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kaihan?
A Japanese name meaning "opening to the ocean".
How many people are called Kaihan in the UK?
A total of 32 babies have been registered as Kaihan across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.