Kanai
Every Kanai since 1999 — 575 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kanai
Kanai is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,213 in 2025 with 37 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1999, 575 American babies have been named Kanai — about 71% boys and 29% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 50 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 Kanai stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kanai 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 | 13 | #8,095 | 37 | #3,213 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,624 | 26 | #4,141 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10,728 | 30 | #3,763 |
| 2022 | 14 | #7,830 | 29 | #3,823 |
| 2021 | 17 | #6,838 | 24 | #4,310 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,678 | 15 | #5,836 |
| 2019 | 5 | #16,739 | 20 | #4,889 |
| 2018 | — | — | 17 | #5,425 |
| 2017 | 11 | #9,619 | 15 | #5,939 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,299 | 13 | #6,528 |
| 2015 | 6 | #15,424 | 18 | #5,174 |
| 2014 | 7 | #13,784 | 18 | #5,163 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11,444 | 14 | #6,078 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,784 | 23 | #4,322 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14,040 | 13 | #6,417 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11,736 | 6 | #11,477 |
| 2009 | 10 | #11,067 | 13 | #6,631 |
| 2008 | 9 | #12,085 | 14 | #6,258 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18,992 | 10 | #7,887 |
| 2006 | 5 | #18,569 | 12 | #6,683 |
| 2005 | — | — | 11 | #6,876 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,876 |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | 9 | #7,217 |
| 2000 | — | — | 5 | #11,302 |
| 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 Kanai in 2025?
Kanai ranked #3,213 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 37 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kanai?
575 babies have been named Kanai in the United States since 1999, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kanai most popular?
Kanai peaked in 2025, when 50 newborns received the name.
Is Kanai a boy or girl name?
Kanai is used for both: about 29% of babies named Kanai have been girls and 71% boys.
Is the name Kanai rising or falling?
Kanai is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.