Declining since 2005.
Popularity of Ai since 1974
Babies named Ai per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 82 |
| 1990s | 107 |
| 2000s | 114 |
| 2010s | 60 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Meaning & origin
Ai is a Japanese name with a dual meaning that reflects two very different but equally evocative concepts: love and indigo. The name first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1974, a time when Japanese cultural exports were beginning to reach American shores. It reached its peak popularity in 1991, likely riding a wave of interest in Japanese names during the economic boom of the 1980s and early 1990s. Since 2005, however, the name has been on a falling trajectory, slowly declining in usage as newer trends have emerged. Ai has not been recorded among the top baby names in any U.S. state, remaining a rare but distinctive choice for American families drawn to its simplicity and depth.
Ai is a Japanese name written with various kanji, most commonly 愛 meaning 'love, affection,' or 藍 meaning 'indigo.' The name has been used in Japan for centuries, often for girls. In recent decades it has gained modest international recognition, though its pronunciation in English typically shifts from the Japanese 'ah-ee' to a single syllable rhyming with 'eye.'
Sibling names for Ai
Names that share Ai's style, for a brother or sister.
