Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 2005

Ki

Meaning Spelling variant of Ky Gender Unisex · 20% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

Spelling variant of Ky.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Ki
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2005
23 babies
All-time total
535
#8,685 all-time among boys
First recorded
1946
in Social Security records

Ki popularity over time

535 babies have been named Ki since 1946, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – 5 5 1 – #3,782
1950s 7 20 27 3 +440% #3,160
1960s – 38 38 4 +41% #3,388
1970s 5 18 23 2 -39% #4,694
1980s 21 41 62 6 +170% #5,805
1990s 21 76 97 10 +56% #5,048
2000s 38 114 152 15 +57% #4,128
2010s 6 94 100 10 -34% #6,486
2020s (to 2025) 11 20 31 5 -48% #9,302

The story of Ki

Ki is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1946, 535 American babies have been named Ki, about 80% boys and 20% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2005, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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 Ki stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ki?

The median living Ki is about 24 years old; half are between 15 and 38. An estimated 500 people named Ki are alive in the United States today.

median 24 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ki 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 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 5 #16,446 – –
2022 6 #14,505 7 #10,374
2021 – – 8 #9,302
2020 – – 5 #13,183
2019 – – 10 #7,956
2018 – – 7 #10,256
2017 – – 13 #6,513
2016 – – 10 #7,909
2015 – – 5 #13,139
2014 – – 13 #6,486
2013 – – 9 #8,487
2012 – – 12 #6,851
2011 6 #15,855 5 #13,438
2010 – – 10 #7,896
2009 – – 13 #6,658
2008 6 #16,501 8 #9,478
2007 6 #16,589 8 #9,377
2006 – – 6 #11,417
2005 5 #17,908 18 #4,743
2004 – – 11 #6,792
2003 7 #13,173 13 #5,737
2002 – – 20 #4,128
2001 7 #12,783 11 #6,254
2000 7 #12,504 6 #9,770
1995 – – – –
1990 – – 10 #5,206
1985 – – 5 #7,101
1980 5 #11,200 – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – 5 #4,208
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Ki

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Ki Hong Lee Ki Hong Lee American actor (born 1986) Contemporary
  2. 2 Ki Sung-yueng Ki Sung-yueng South Korean footballer (born 1989) Contemporary
  3. 3 Ki Hajar Dewantara Ki Hajar Dewantara Indonesian activist, politician and educator (1889–1959) 19th century
  4. 4 Ki no Tsurayuki Ki no Tsurayuki Japanese writer 866–945 · Medieval
  5. 5 Ki Bo-bae Ki Bo-bae South Korean archer (born 1988) Contemporary
  6. 6 Ki no Tomonori Ki no Tomonori Japanese poet 850–904 · Medieval
  7. 7 Ki Daophet Niuhuang Laotian Luk thung singer (1972–2020) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ki, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ki?

The median living Ki is about 24 years old. Half of all living Kis are between 15 and 38 years old.

How many people named Ki are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Ki are alive in the United States, based on 535 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ki mean?

Spelling variant of Ky.

How popular is the name Ki in 2025?

Ki did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ki?

535 babies have been named Ki in the United States since 1946, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ki most popular?

Ki peaked in 2005, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Ki a boy or girl name?

Ki is used for both: about 20% of babies named Ki have been girls and 80% boys.

Is the name Ki rising or falling?

Ki is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Ki?

Well-known people named Ki include Ki Hong Lee (actor), Ki Sung-yueng (soccer player), Ki Hajar Dewantara (politician).

Names like Ki

Names that sound and feel close to Ki: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ki with similar names → More names starting with K →