Kai

Cass&Derek

Would it be inappropriate for a kid that has no hawaiian/polynesian association to be named Kai?

paulaanne

Not sure I'd say it's inappropriate?? Is it a Girl or Boy name?

alliejo725

I think it's sufficiently popular among us white-breads right now--at least popular enough to not be "weird" on a non-Hawaiian/Polynesian kid.

Personally, I don't like the name, but that's no reason for you not to use it.

RunningMamaH

I met 2 Kai's at the beach last week. (strange huh?)

One was 9ish and the other was 2ish. Both were fair skinned and one was very blonde with blue eyes. 

It's NMS but you should go with what you like.

PrincessFiona9

A (white) girl I know has a (white) DD age 8 mos who's name is Coraline Kai.

Anasara

I know people of every color in the rainbow naming their kids "Kai" lately so you should be all set.  Hopefully it doesn't become the new Ayden/Brayden/Kayden.

Spookster

My daughter is Makaia, I don't like Kai as a stand alone name but I like it as a nn. 

emilyray14

I really like it for a boy!! If you want a more contiguous states type feel, you go with Kye or Ky too.

vanceandlori

I'm from Hawaii and I think there are some locals here who would consider it a little ... different to name a child Kai if they had no ties to the language/culture. However, I don't come from that school of thought and really believe that if you love the name, use it

 

 

Anasara

Also, FWIW I'm 1/4 Hawaiian & it wouldn't bother me if a non-Hawaiian used the name.  But then again on that side of my family we're Portuguese/Hawaiian mixture (there are so few full Hawaiians left) so I've never thought Kai was reserved only for Native folks.  My mom is Irish & my sister has an Irish name while mine's kind of white bread.  DH is Tamil (from southern India) but honestly most Americans wouldn't use many Indian names because they can't pronounce them (even though they're often phonetic, like our last name).  If we ever get pregnant I have a list of Indian names (anything else wouldn't sound right IMO) that are easy to pronounce, lol.  Kai at least is easy to pronounce.

HeyJune

The Kai I know is African American and Caucasian. I think it's a cool name.

I've also seen it as a nickname for Malakai/Malachi or Makaia. 

kim1989

well Im english and my sister was going to call my nephew that, personally I was really happy when she changed her mind cos I just dont like it at all

lauranicole91

I love the name Kai, regardless of their cultural background. However, I think it is strictly a boy's name.

daenikoffre

alliejo725:

I think it's sufficiently popular among us white-breads right now--at least popular enough to not be "weird" on a non-Hawaiian/Polynesian kid.

Personally, I don't like the name, but that's no reason for you not to use it.

This. Word for word. 

waterfly

While yes, I think it's definitely at least bordering on cultural appropriation if you're aiming for it as a Hawaiian name and aren't Hawaiian, I will toss out that that isn't the only culture/language/etc. that has instances of this name.  There's also Sir Kai/Cai/Kay, of Arthurian legend.

MOH0909

Not strange at all.  I know a blonde hair blue eyed 2 year old named Kairi pronounced Kai-Ree.  And I know another 2 year old with blonde hair blue eyes named Kaia.  Both go by Kai as a NN.