Fun Facts About the Name Kaige
- 462 babies named Kaige: U.S. records list 462 babies given the name Kaige from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Kaige - about 1 girl for every 91 boys.
What Does the Name Kaige Mean?
Kaige is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese given name 凯歌 (Kǎigē), meaning "triumphant song." It is built from two characters: 凯 (kǎi), "triumphant" or "victorious," and 歌 (gē), "song." Chinese given names often pair an auspicious word with a second element, and here the two characters form a set phrase rather than two separate ideas. The literal sense is "victory song," and "triumphant song" is the customary English rendering.
The spelling Kaige is also used as a given name in English-speaking countries, where it is usually read as one syllable rhyming with page. That English use has no separate etymology that can be traced; it matches the romanized Chinese name exactly, and the two are often treated as the same name, though some who use the English name connect it instead with the short name Kai. Similar-sounding names such as Keegan or Kaia come from other traditions and are not related.
Kaige Name History & Origins
In Chinese, 凯 (kǎi) originally referred to the music played when a victorious army returned home. The related word 凯旋 (kǎixuán) means "to return in triumph," and 凯歌 (kǎigē) is the song of that return. The compound has long been used for a song of victory or celebration, and it also became an ordinary personal name.
The best-known bearer is the Chinese film director Chen Kaige (born 1952), whose given name is this compound; his family name is Chen, so Kaige is the personal name alone. Because Chinese names are written in pinyin, 凯歌 appears as Kaige in English, which is how the spelling became familiar to readers outside China.
In English-speaking countries, Kaige appears as an uncommon given name, spelled the same way as the romanized Chinese name. Whether that English use grew out of the Chinese name or arose separately from similar-sounding names is not documented.
How Popular is the Name Kaige?
Kaige has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2015. Its best rank was #3,229 in 1999.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | #18,137 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,291 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,348 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #11,502 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #6,647 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #7,349 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #5,831 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #6,596 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #5,012 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #5,933 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #4,255 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2015 | #3,633 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2014 | #5,159 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2013 | #4,391 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2012 | #4,073 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #4,745 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #4,937 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #4,106 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2008 | #5,922 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #5,793 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #6,284 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #5,728 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #7,263 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #5,155 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #5,016 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #4,688 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #3,229 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1998 | #8,016 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #5,472 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #8,451 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #9,577 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kaige Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Kaige's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kaige's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.