Boy name
Kayı name meaning
“the name of an Oghuz tribe”
Kayı is the name of a historical Oghuz tribe. Used as a masculine given name in Türkiye, it draws on the Old Turkic tribal naming tradition. The name has a concrete historical association with Oghuz genealogical narratives and the traditional tribal emblem attributed to Kayı.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Old Turkic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- #2,920
What does Kayı mean?
The name of an Oghuz tribe
In Turkish: bir Oğuz boyunun adı
Kayı is associated with Oghuz tribal tradition and accounts of the Ottoman dynasty's ancestry. That historical connection is clearer than any literal dictionary meaning. The tribal designation should not be treated as the name of a particular ruler, and interpretations involving strength are best presented as traditional explanations rather than established etymology.
Origin of the name Kayı
Kayı is the name of a historical Oghuz tribe. Traditional genealogical accounts connect it with strength or firmness, but the tribe name's etymology is uncertain.
| Linguistic origin | Old Turkic |
|---|---|
| Is Kayı in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | K · Ka |
How to pronounce Kayı
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /kajɯ/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | قایى |
Is Kayı a boy’s name?
Yes, Kayı is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Kayı does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Kayı
FAQ about the name Kayı
What is the meaning of Kayı?
Kayı means “the name of an Oghuz tribe”. Kayı is the name of a historical Oghuz tribe. Traditional genealogical accounts connect it with strength or firmness, but the tribe name's etymology is uncertain.
Is Kayı a boy’s name?
Yes, Kayı is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Kayı in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Kayı nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Kayı?
Kayı is of Old Turkic origin.
How many syllables does Kayı have?
Kayı has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Kayı?
Kayı does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm03580 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake