חי
Chai means “alive, living”
Chai is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
- In Hebrew
- חי
- In English letters
- Chai
- Other English spellings
- Hai, Hay
- Meaning
- Alive, living
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Given to
- Boys
- Gematria value
- 18
2,223 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Chai.
- 60 of them are women and girls, and 2,163 are men and boys.
- 72 of them were born in 1993, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 58, against 75 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is shrinking.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Chai is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling חי today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 60 | 0 | – |
| Jewish boys | 2,163 | 12 | 385 of 541 |
In 2024, Chai ranked 385 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Chai in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Chai.
What does the name Chai mean?
Chai means “alive, living”. Chai is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Is Chai a boy's name or a girl's name?
Chai is mainly a boy's name. Of the 2,223 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 60 are women and girls and 2,163 are men and boys.
How do you write Chai in Hebrew?
Chai is written חי in Hebrew.
How many people in Israel are named Chai?
2,223 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Chai today. The most were born in 1993. In 2024, Chai ranked 385 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.