Qi
In the Sinosphere and Chinese philosophy, qi is a vital force traditionally believed to be a part of all living entities. Literally meaning 'vapor', 'air', 'gas', or 'breath', the word qi is polysemous, often translated as 'vital energy', 'vital force', 'material energy', or simply 'energy'. Qi is also a concept in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese martial arts.
Meaning & Origin of Qi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In the Sinosphere and Chinese philosophy, qi is a vital force traditionally believed to be a part of all living entities. Literally meaning 'vapor', 'air', 'gas', or 'breath', the word qi is polysemous, often translated as 'vital energy', 'vital force', 'material energy', or simply 'energy'. Qi is also a concept in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese martial arts.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Qi
As a girl name
Qi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2007, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 5 Qis were born — ranking #17,634 that year. As of 2026, Qi ranks #16,416 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Qis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Qi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2000, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2002, when 7 Qis were born — ranking #8,454 that year. As of 2026, Qi ranks #12,153 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 28 Qis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Qi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Qi 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 Qi
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About the name Qi
Qi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2000 and has accumulated 28 births in the dataset. Qi's peak popularity came in 2002 when it ranked #8,454. Use the chart and map above to compare Qi'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 "Q" →
- 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.