NameRealm
Kami

Kami: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“god, spirit”
Origin
Japanese
Say it
KAH-mee · 2 syllables
Used for
Girls

In Japanese, kami means 'god' or 'spirit', though as a given name the meaning depends on the kanji used. It is also used in the West as a variant of Cami or Kammy. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.

Japanese namesNames meaning faithShort namesInternational names

How popular is Kami?

202411.4 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Kami in 202438

2024 rank#3,905 girls

Peak year1972

Total US babies since 18808,931

Kami is steady now but far below its 1972 peak.

Names like Kami

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Camiyoung ceremonial attendant · French
  • Ayacolorful design; verse, sign · Japanese
  • Hanaflower · Japanese
  • Kairisea village · Japanese
  • Noridoctrine, ceremony, law · Japanese
  • Emibeautiful blessing · Japanese
  • Kyomiuncertain; depends on kanji · Japanese
  • Kiyomipure beauty · Japanese

Kami questions

What does the name Kami mean?

Kami means "god, spirit". It comes from Japanese. In Japanese, kami means 'god' or 'spirit', though as a given name the meaning depends on the kanji used. It is also used in the West as a variant of Cami or Kammy.

Is Kami a boy or girl name?

Kami is mainly a girl's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Kami?

38 US babies were named Kami in 2024. Its peak year was 1972.

How do you pronounce Kami?

Kami is usually pronounced KAH-mee.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.