Kaj as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kaj

What is the meaning of the name Kaj ?

The baby name Kaj is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kaɪ/ (KAI, common English/Dutch rendering),/kɑj/ (Danish pronunciation).

Kaj is Dutch, Scandinavian in Origin.

Rooted in the Nordic languages, Kaj is a masculine given name pronounced “Kye.” It is chiefly a Scandinavian short form of Kajus/Cajus - the local rendering of the Latin name Gaius - whose etymology is often linked to gaudere, “to rejoice.” In everyday use it also overlaps with the pan-European Kai. Related variants include Kai, Kay, Cai, Caj, Kajus, Caius, and Gaius; feminine counterparts appear as Kaja or Kaya in some languages, though Kaj itself is typically male.

Records show Kaj in Denmark and Sweden from the late 19th century, rising sharply in the mid-20th century and remaining familiar among Swedish-speaking Finns. Notable bearers include Danish pastor-playwright Kaj Munk and Finnish designer Kaj Franck. Today the name reads brisk and minimalist; while Kai is often unisex internationally, the j-spelling Kaj remains most common for men in Scandinavia and the Nordic diaspora.