Boy · #11,471 in 2026

Tsai

Cài is a Chinese-language surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. In 2019 it was the 38th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as "Tsai", "Tsay", or "Chai" and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as "Chua", which is based on its Teochew and Hokkien pronunciation.

Current Rank
#11,471
Peak Rank
#9,265 (1997)
Total Babies
10
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1997
First Year
2005
Last Year
1997
Peak Year
#9265
Peak Rank
10
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Tsai

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Cài is a Chinese-language surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. In 2019 it was the 38th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as "Tsai", "Tsay", or "Chai" and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as "Chua", which is based on its Teochew and Hokkien pronunciation.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
See also: Cai (state) The Cais are said to be the descendants of the 5th son of King Wen of Zhou , Ji Du . Ji Du was awarded the title of marquis ( hóu ) of the State of Cai (centered on what is now Shangcai , Zhumadian , Henan , China ), circa 1046 BCE, and he was known as Cai Shu Du ("Uncle Du of Cai"). Together with Guan Shu and Huo Shu , they were known as the Three Guards . When King Wu died, his son King Cheng was too young and his uncle, the Duke of Zhou , became regent . Seeing that the power of the Duke of Zhou was increasing, the Three Guards got jealous and rebelled against Zhou tog

The Story of Tsai

Tsai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1997, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1997, when 5 Tsais were born — ranking #9,265 that year. As of 2026, Tsai ranks #11,471 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Tsais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Notable people named Tsai

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Cai Bingchen , Chinese para-athlete
  • Cai Cheng , Chinese politician
  • Cai Chusheng , early Chinese film director
  • Cai E , Chinese revolutionary and warlord in early 20th century
  • Cai Feihu , Chinese professor, engineer and businessman
  • Cai Gongshi , Chinese emissary killed by Japanese soldiers during the Jinan Incident
  • Cai Guo-Qiang , Chinese contemporary artist and curator.
  • Cai Hanqing , revolutionary and politician of the Republic of China

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Tsai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Tsai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Cty
  • Tsu
  • Tsa
  • Tso
  • Tse
  • Csa
  • Tsee
  • Tsao
  • Tsi
  • Csae
  • Ptsa
  • Tsah

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tsai

What does the name Tsai mean?
Cài is a Chinese-language surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. In 2019 it was the 38th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as "Tsai", "Tsay", or "Chai" and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as "Chua", which is based on its Teochew and Hokkien pronunciation.
How popular is Tsai in 2026?
In 2026, Tsai ranks #11,471 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Tsai most popular?
Tsai reached its peak popularity in 1997, ranking #9,265 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Tsai a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Tsai is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Tsai?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Tsai include Aatif, Alizae, Amisadai. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Aatif
Peak #9265
👦
Alizae
Peak #9265
👦
Amisadai
Peak #9265
👦
Anferne
Peak #9265
👦
Armante
Peak #9265
👦
Arzel
Peak #9265
👦
Aseante
Peak #9265
👦
Branco
Peak #9265

About the name Tsai

Tsai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1997 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Tsai's peak popularity came in 1997 when it ranked #9,265. Use the chart and map above to compare Tsai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.