Ki
Ki is a name with a single cultural origin: Sumerian Mythology.
- Sumerian Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Ki
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ki is a name with a single cultural origin: Sumerian Mythology.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Sumerian Mythology
The Story of Ki
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Ki as a girl name dates back to 1957, when 7 babies received it. 1992 was its biggest year on record, with 8 newborns named Ki — #9,489 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 35% of all recorded Kis. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 109 Kis 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 Ki as a boy name dates back to 1946, when 5 babies received it. 2002 was its biggest year on record, with 20 newborns named Ki — #4,044 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Kis. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2022 (7 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 426 Kis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ki
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ki 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 Ki
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In which U.S. states is Ki most popular?
Is Ki a unisex name?
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About the name Ki
Ki is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1946 and has accumulated 426 births in the dataset. Ki's peak popularity came in 2002 when it ranked #4,044. Use the chart and map above to compare Ki's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2002 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- 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.