UK boy's name
Khai
Masculine Thai name meaning "a gem, jewel or crystal".
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.
Khai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Khai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1162, with 24 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 24 births.
This profile covers 267 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Khai is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 294 living people in the UK are called Khai. 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
- • Khai ranked #1162 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 24 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 24 boys were registered as Khai.
- • Khai ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
- • About 294 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1162
2024
Births in 2024
24
Latest year
Peak year
2024
24 births
Estimated living
294
2026
Meaning
What does Khai mean?
The name Khai is believed to have its origins in the Thai language and culture. It is a unisex name that has been in use for centuries in Thailand and surrounding regions. The name Khai is derived from the Thai word "khai," which means "egg" or "embryo," symbolizing new life and potential.
In ancient Thai literature, the name Khai is mentioned in several historical records and texts, particularly those related to Buddhism and Thai folklore. It is said that the name was often given to children born during the Thai New Year celebration, known as Songkran, which marks the beginning of the traditional Thai solar calendar.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Khai dates back to the 13th century, during the Sukhothai Kingdom, a prominent Thai kingdom that flourished from 1238 to 1438 CE. Historical records mention a revered Buddhist monk named Khai Nok, who was known for his wisdom and teachings.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Khai. One such figure was Khai Nuan, a renowned Thai painter and artist who lived in the 19th century and is celebrated for his intricate and vibrant murals adorning the walls of various temples and royal palaces in Thailand.
Another prominent individual with the name Khai was Khai Mueang, a legendary Thai warrior and military commander who lived during the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767 CE). He is celebrated for his bravery and leadership in defending the kingdom against invading forces.
In the realm of literature, Khai Tharathorn was a respected Thai poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century. His works, which explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality, have left a lasting impact on Thai literature and culture.
Khai Sirithorn, a contemporary Thai actress and model, has also brought attention to the name in recent decades. Born in 1979, she has starred in numerous popular Thai films and television series, becoming a household name in Thailand.
Lastly, Khai Khao San Road is a renowned street in Bangkok, known for its vibrant nightlife, street food, and backpacker culture. The name Khai Khao San Road has become synonymous with the rich cultural diversity and energy of Thailand's capital city.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Khai over time
The chart below shows babies named Khai 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 Khai, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 24 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khai 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 | #1793 | 79 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2757 | 64 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1678 | 104 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2175 | 20 | 4 |
Geography
Where Khai is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Khai. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Khai ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
Across the UK
Khai in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#619 in 2024
8 years of NRS records, 29 total registered
Related
Names similar to Khai
- 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
Khai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Khai in the UK right now?
In 2024, Khai was ranked #1162 for boys in England and Wales, with 24 births registered.
When was Khai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 24 babies registered as Khai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Khai?
Masculine Thai name meaning "a gem, jewel or crystal".
How many people are called Khai in the UK?
A total of 267 babies have been registered as Khai across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 29 more in Scotland.
Where is Khai most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Khai ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #619 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.