Jai
Jai is a name with multiple cultural origins: Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, English.
- Hindi
- Marathi
- Tamil
- English
Meaning & Origin of Jai
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Jai is a name with multiple cultural origins: Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, English.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hindi
- Marathi
- Tamil
- English
The Story of Jai
As a girl name
Jai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1957, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1998: 51 births, good for #2,651 nationwide. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Jais. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,091 among girl names with 35 births, gradually falling (-14%). In total, more than 1K Jais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Jai as a boy name dates back to 1959, when 7 babies received it. 2014 was its biggest year on record, with 201 newborns named Jai — #1,014 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 29% of all recorded Jais. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,297 among boy names with 151 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 5K Jais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Jai
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Jai. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Jai
Phonetically similar names — useful when Jai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jai
What does the name Jai mean?
What is the origin of the name Jai?
How popular is Jai in 2026?
When was Jai most popular?
In which U.S. states is Jai most popular?
Is Jai a unisex name?
What names go well with Jai?
What are nicknames or variants of Jai?
About the name Jai
Jai is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1959 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Jai's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #1,014. Use the chart and map above to compare Jai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "J" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.