Find out how popular the first name Cai has been for the last 35 years (from 1989 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cai by gender

Based on the last 35 years of data, Cai is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 74% of people named Cai being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 86 male babies and 25 female babies born with the name Cai.

The history of the first name Cai

The name Cai has its origins in Welsh culture, stemming from the Welsh word "cai," which means "keeper" or "protector." This name was prevalent in Wales during the Middle Ages and has been traced back to as early as the 6th century AD.

Cai was a popular name among the ancient Britons, and it appears in various Welsh legends and myths. One notable reference is the character Cai Hir (Cai the Tall) in the Arthurian legends, who was a close companion and knight of King Arthur.

In the 12th century, the name Cai was recorded in the Brut y Brenhinedd (Chronicle of the Kings), a Welsh language manuscript that details the history of the British Isles. This early written record highlights the longstanding use of the name in Welsh culture.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Cai was Cai ab Idwal (born around 1050), a Welsh prince and heir to the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Another notable figure was Cai ap Bleddyn (died 1109), a Welsh nobleman who fought against the Norman conquest of Wales.

Throughout history, the name Cai has been borne by various notable individuals, including Cai Hir Holland (1618-1672), a Welsh poet and writer; Cai Withrow (1814-1895), an American pioneer and settler in Oregon; Cai Guo-Qiang (born 1957), a renowned Chinese artist known for his explosive artworks; and Cai Yingwen (born 1962), a Taiwanese politician and the first woman elected as President of Taiwan in 2016.

Despite its Welsh origins, the name Cai has also gained popularity in other cultures, such as China and Taiwan, where it is often rendered as 蔡 or 蓋 in Chinese characters, with variations in pronunciation and meaning.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cai, please contact us.

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