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Kei as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kei

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The baby name Kei is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /keɪ/ ("kay").

Kei is Japanese in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: /keɪ/ ("kay")

What is the meaning of the name Kei ?

The baby name Kei is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /keɪ/ ("kay").

Kei is Japanese in Origin.

Kei is a compact, gender-neutral Japanese given name written with numerous kanji. Common choices include 慧 “wisdom,” 恵 “blessing/favor,” 敬 “respect,” 啓 “to open, enlighten,” 景 “scenery/light,” and 圭, a “jade tablet,” historically a symbol of rank, lending a refined tone. Because meaning depends entirely on the chosen characters, parents often select Kei for its sleek sound (kei) while tailoring the nuance to traits they wish to celebrate - intellect, kindness, celebration (慶), or quiet radiance.

Documented in modern records since the early 1900s, the name gained broader popularity from the late 20th century and is familiar worldwide through figures like tennis star Kei Nishikori and filmmaker-actress Kei Fujiwara. Beyond Japan, Kei also appears as a Cantonese romanization for given names such as 琦/祺 (“fine jade,” “auspicious”). Related Japanese forms include Keiko, Keita, Keiji, Keisuke, and Keina; the English Kay is a phonetic cousin rather than a true cognate.

Kei has the following similar or variant Names

Kei – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
MO 0 #28 25 2,706
JP 0 #42 36 4,057
JP Boys 0 #50 396 7,909
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
MO Boys 0 #102 140 5,842
PH 0 #105 6 5,607
QA 0 #105 2 7,011
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
JP Girls 0 #136 123 6,592
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
BW Girls 0 #149 3 4,216
MO Girls 0 #150 108 7,056
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
HK Boys 0 #177 757 12,905
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
Sweden Boys 2015 #186 2 1,467
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
PL 0 #210 3 2,600
AO Girls 0 #216 2 4,575
AL Girls 0 #224 4 4,141
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
TW Boys 0 #231 11 7,111
HK 0 #254 97 8,483
SG 0 #254 16 11,010
TW Girls 0 #265 12 8,139
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
JM Girls 0 #278 1 7,507
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
KZ Boys 0 #294 3 6,578
AL Boys 0 #295 9 5,122
SA 0 #308 5 10,560
CN Boys 0 #310 10 9,639
MY 0 #313 18 12,352
PE 0 #327 3 6,350
Canada Boys 2016 #329 5 2,391
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
CN Girls 0 #337 13 8,829
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
QA Girls 0 #338 6 15,378
PH Girls 0 #339 52 13,098
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
MU Girls 0 #359 4 8,539
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
PH Boys 0 #372 12 11,440
France Boys 2021 #384 4 2,865
HK Girls 0 #388 242 16,104
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
CL 0 #431 4 6,867
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
PA Girls 0 #471 11 9,861
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
AR Boys 0 #481 3 7,628
CR Girls 0 #492 41 11,342
RU Boys 0 #494 12 12,621
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
PA Boys 0 #503 3 9,305
CO 0 #508 3 7,768
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
RU Girls 0 #517 7 11,913
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
GT Girls 0 #539 3 7,500
SG Girls 0 #544 43 18,916
PS Girls 0 #546 2 10,981
CM Girls 0 #557 4 11,671
KW Girls 0 #560 2 19,177
IR Boys 0 #561 5 10,162
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
CM Boys 0 #574 2 12,054
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
AR Girls 0 #587 13 8,289
AE Girls 0 #591 7 20,968
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
BO Boys 0 #618 5 9,244
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
BO Girls 0 #648 4 9,488
SG Boys 0 #650 48 17,960
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
CL Boys 0 #693 8 13,390
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
QA Boys 0 #738 6 18,093
BR Boys 0 #783 3 12,213
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
Germany Girls 0 #829 10 4,949
CL Girls 0 #838 14 14,098
MY Girls 0 #866 129 24,821
PE Boys 0 #869 10 14,506
United States Boys 2024 #871 22 7,044
PE Girls 0 #902 42 14,861
CO Boys 0 #906 15 15,656
United States Girls 2023 #908 7 8,600
SA Girls 0 #919 17 25,931
EG Boys 0 #924 2 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #925 28 5,697
Spain Girls 0 #970 14 5,561
BR Girls 0 #988 5 12,708
NG Boys 0 #998 4 16,906
MY Boys 0 #1,025 87 25,439
MX Boys 0 #1,027 7 16,355
CO Girls 0 #1,032 47 16,140
IN Boys 0 #1,032 8 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,139 5 22,615
MX Girls 0 #1,144 40 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,159 20 25,619
MA 0 #1,193 7 20,986
DZ 0 #1,230 5 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,230 7 25,928
TR 0 #1,252 3 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,432 40 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,432 15 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,605 10 28,008

Kei is popular in 67 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
France
AE
AL
AO

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Kei

Kei is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Kei is a one syllable name, pronounced /keɪ/ ("kay").
Common nicknames and spelling variations include 恵, 慶, 敬, 景, 啓 and 慧.
Across languages, Kei has these equivalents: Kay (English, similar sound), Kai (similar-sounding name from other origins), Kee (alternate spelling).
Yes — Kei ranked #186 in Sweden in 2015, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Kei ranks highest in Sweden (#186 in 2015).