Lai
Girl name · 9 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Lai: 9 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1976.
Of Chinese origin, Lai is a surname that has also seen use as a given name, deriving from the word lài meaning "to rely on" or "depend". It shares roots with the Lai people of China's Yunnan province. In a Western context, it can also be a short form of names like Laila or Delilah, though those have separate etymologies. One notable bearer is Lai Man-Wai, considered the father of Hong Kong cinema. The name is uncommon in Scotland, but its simplicity makes it a distinctive choice for parents drawn to cross-cultural names. As an added note, the Cantonese variant, often romanised as “Lye”, can also be linked to the word for "thunder" in certain dialects.
Girl 3 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19763 babies
- Latest (1986)
- #5653 babies
- Total births
- 9since 1976
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y