Total births
231
Unisex name · since 1953
Lai
231 babies named Lai in U.S. Social Security records since 1953, with the highest year being 1984. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 231
- total births
- 1953–2015
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 41%
- born in that decade
231 girls have been named Lai since 1953, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Lai has been recorded 231 times among girls since 1953, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1953 to 2015.
- 231 total births
- 1953–2015 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 41% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
231 girls have been named Lai since 1953, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2015.
- 231
- total births
- 1953–2015
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 41%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
41% of everyone ever named Lai was born in this single decade.
1984
Single peak year
17 babies were named Lai in 1984 - its busiest year on record.
Lai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Lai's SSA record in two at 1988 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1953, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1984 peak of 17, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Lai at a glance
Last recorded 2015Peak year
1984
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1953
Lai popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1953–2015
- Peak year (1984)
- 17
- Annual births at peak, across 63 years of records
Lai popularity over time - boys
25 total births recorded since 1981 (Lai as boys' name)
Lai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Lai's strongest decade.
94 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 41% of all-time use.
Lai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 26
1970s
26 births
- 1980s
1980s
94 births
- 1990s
1990s
84 births
- 2000s 11
2000s
11 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 94 births (41% of all-time use).
Lai by state
Where Lai concentrates geographically, total births since 1953
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 70 | 30.3% |
| #2 | New York | | 5 | 2.2% |
California share of Lai's total US births 30.3%
Even split
70 of 231 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lai? ▼
231 babies have been named Lai since 1953. It was last recorded in 2015. The peak year was 1984 with 17 births.
When was Lai most popular? ▼
Lai was most popular in the 1980s decade with 94 total births. The single peak year was 1984.
Where is Lai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lai are California (70 births), New York (5 births).
Is Lai a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lai is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 231 births, and as a boy's name it has 25 births.
How long has the name Lai been used? ▼
Lai has been recorded in Social Security data since 1953, spanning 63 years of data through 2015.
What names are similar to Lai? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Laila, Lainey, Lailah, Laine, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Lai's data
- Lai's decade-level peak was the 1980s (94 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Lais (70 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Lai
Nearby Names Like Lai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lai
Laila Girl
#371 43,484 births
Lainey Girl
#38 28,421 births
Lailah Girl
#1111 6,900 births
Laine Girl
#1651 4,051 births
Laina Girl
#2267 3,569 births
Compare Lai side by side: Lai vs Laila Lai vs Lainey Lai vs Lailah
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1953–2015 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lai: Baby Name Since 1953 - 231 Births, Peak 1984." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lai. 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 Lai 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.