Kai is one of those hip names that has been popping up everywhere lately, but its takeover has been subtle. It has been slowly gaining traction since the late 1970s, and right now it's one of those excruciatingly cool names — it's trendy, but not so trendy that it's become completely mainstream. The best part is that it can be used for both boys and girls, although it's still more frequently given to little lads.

The moniker has meanings in several languages, giving it some international flair that makes it popular with travel-loving moms and dads. In Hawaiian, it means "sea," in Japanese, it means "forgiveness," in Navajo it means "willow tree," and in Maori it means "food." Sadly, the growing popularity of the name means that, while Kai sounds cool now, it will be another story a decade from now. It's either going to sound like a name that's trying way too hard to be "in," or it will have overplayed its hand and become far too common.