UK boy's name
Kais
A masculine Arabic name meaning "powerful" or "winner of a competition".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kais is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kais popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 11 births.
This profile covers 147 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.
Kais is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 146 living people in the UK are called Kais. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kais ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 11 boys were registered as Kais.
- • About 146 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kais as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2024
11 births
Estimated living
146
2026
Meaning
What does Kais mean?
The name Kais has its origins in Arabic culture and language. It is derived from the Arabic word "qays," which means "mighty" or "powerful." The name carries a sense of strength and resilience, making it a popular choice for parents in the Arab world.
Kais has been a prominent name throughout the history of the Middle East and the Islamic world. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in pre-Islamic Arabic poetry, where it was used to refer to a famous Arabian knight and poet, Kais ibn al-Mulawwah, who lived in the 6th century CE.
During the Islamic Golden Age, the name Kais gained further prominence. One notable figure was Kais ibn al-Rabi'ah, a renowned Arab poet who lived in the 7th century CE and whose works were widely celebrated for their beauty and emotional depth.
In the 11th century, Kais al-Rumi was a prominent Persian philosopher and mystic who made significant contributions to the development of Sufism, a spiritual branch of Islam. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on Islamic thought and philosophy.
Moving forward in history, Kais Hosain was a prominent Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1957 to 1963. He played a crucial role in the country's political and diplomatic affairs during a turbulent period.
Another noteworthy figure is Kais Saied, the current President of Tunisia. Born in 1958, he was elected in 2019 and has been leading the country through a period of political and economic challenges, emphasizing the importance of reforms and democratic principles.
These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals throughout history who have borne the name Kais. While the name has its roots in Arabic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained recognition in various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse and rich tapestry of human history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kais over time
The chart below shows babies named Kais registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kais, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kais by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kais 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 | #2441 | 44 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3476 | 42 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2804 | 47 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2241 | 14 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kais
- 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
Kais: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kais in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kais was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Kais most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 11 babies registered as Kais in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kais?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "powerful" or "winner of a competition".
How many people are called Kais in the UK?
A total of 147 babies have been registered as Kais across the 25 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.