Total births
406
Unisex name · since 1999
Kanai
Since 1999, U.S. Social Security records show 406 babies named Kanai, peaking in 2025. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4170
- among boys today
- 406
- born since 1999
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Kanai is the #4170 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 406 recorded since 1999.
Kanai has 406 recorded births among boys since 1999, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #4170 as of the latest data, more common than 71% of boys, busiest in the 2020s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1999 to 2025.
- #4170 among boys today
- 406 born since 1999
- 2020s peak decade
- 71% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Kanai is currently the #4170 unisex name in America, more common than 71% of boys - 406 born since 1999, peaking in the 2020s.
- #4170
- among boys today
- 406
- born since 1999
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other boys
Kanai vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4170
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 71% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Kanai was born in this single decade.
2025
Single peak year
37 babies were named Kanai in 2025 - its busiest year on record.
How Kanai compares
406 Top 48% higher than 52% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Kanai's all-time total is 11% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kanai | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 406 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 37 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kanai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kanai's SSA record in two at 2013 and the more recent half accounts for 68% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 32%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1999, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2025 peak of 37, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kanai at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2025
Current rank
#4,170
Active since
1999
Kanai popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1999–2025
- Peak year (2025)
- 37
- Annual births at peak, across 27 years of records
Kanai popularity over time - girls
169 total births recorded since 2006 (Kanai as girls' name)
Kanai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Kanai's strongest decade.
161 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Kanai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
- 2000s
2000s
83 births
- 2010s
2010s
157 births
- 2020s
2020s
161 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 161 births (40% of all-time use).
Kanai by state
Where Kanai concentrates geographically, total births since 1999
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | | 71 | 17.5% |
Hawaii share of Kanai's total US births 17.5%
71 of 406 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kanai? ▼
406 babies have been named Kanai since 1999. It currently ranks #4170 among boys. The peak year was 2025 with 37 births.
When was Kanai most popular? ▼
Kanai was most popular in the 2020s decade with 161 total births. The single peak year was 2025.
Where is Kanai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kanai are Hawaii (71 births).
Is Kanai a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kanai is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 406 births, and as a girl's name it has 169 births.
How long has the name Kanai been used? ▼
Records for Kanai go back to 1999, giving 27 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Kanai? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kane, Kannon, Kanan, Kanon, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kanai's data
- Hawaii records the most Kanais (71 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Hawaii names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kanai
Nearby Names Like Kanai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kanai
Kane Boy
#432 19,521 births
Kannon Boy
#986 6,040 births
Kanan Boy
#1138 1,809 births
Kanon Boy
#2980 1,524 births
Kanye Boy
#6381 1,404 births
Compare Kanai side by side: Kanai vs Kane Kanai vs Kannon Kanai vs Kanan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kanai
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1999–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kanai: #4170 Unisex Name - 406 Births, Peak 2025." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kanai. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kanai draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.