Kalai
Every Kalai since 1991 — 318 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kalai
Kalai is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,118 in 2025 with 19 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1991, 318 American babies have been named Kalai — about 77% boys and 23% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 24 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kalai stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kalai year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #16,040 | 19 | #5,118 |
| 2024 | — | — | 9 | #8,660 |
| 2023 | — | — | 5 | #13,181 |
| 2022 | 8 | #11,693 | 10 | #8,036 |
| 2021 | 5 | #16,399 | — | — |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,667 | 13 | #6,466 |
| 2019 | 10 | #10,097 | 9 | #8,522 |
| 2018 | — | — | 12 | #6,918 |
| 2017 | — | — | 9 | #8,496 |
| 2016 | — | — | 9 | #8,479 |
| 2015 | 6 | #15,400 | 7 | #10,077 |
| 2014 | — | — | 9 | #8,467 |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | 11 | #7,292 |
| 2011 | — | — | 12 | #6,805 |
| 2010 | — | — | 6 | #11,466 |
| 2009 | 7 | #14,413 | 8 | #9,433 |
| 2008 | — | — | 10 | #7,997 |
| 2007 | — | — | 10 | #7,883 |
| 2006 | — | — | 9 | #8,386 |
| 2005 | — | — | 6 | #10,776 |
| 2004 | — | — | 12 | #6,334 |
| 2003 | — | — | 11 | #6,497 |
| 2002 | — | — | 10 | #6,799 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14,379 | 10 | #6,710 |
| 2000 | 5 | #16,217 | 14 | #5,185 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Kalai in 2025?
Kalai ranked #5,118 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 19 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kalai?
318 babies have been named Kalai in the United States since 1991, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kalai most popular?
Kalai peaked in 2025, when 24 newborns received the name.
Is Kalai a boy or girl name?
Kalai is used for both: about 23% of babies named Kalai have been girls and 77% boys.
Is the name Kalai rising or falling?
Kalai is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.