Kao is a rare variant of Kai that peaked in 1981 and has since faded.
Kao is predominantly a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #9,304 for boy births in the United States (and #19,213 across all names), given to 8 babies. Kao first appears in 1980 and peaked in 1981 (40 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,304 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,194 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,077 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | — | #7,925 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,501 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,283 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,214 |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,382 |
| 2012 | 7 | 7 | — | #10,259 |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | — | #11,567 |
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | — | #11,667 |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,028 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | — | #12,301 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6 | #14,007 | — |
| 1998 | 15 | 15 | #11,732 | #7,209 |
| 1997 | 15 | — | #11,409 | #6,943 |
| 1996 | 15 | — | #14,561 | #5,773 |
| 1995 | 30 | — | #6,100 | #4,166 |
| 1994 | 33 | — | #6,148 | #3,681 |
| 1993 | 30 | — | #6,821 | #3,744 |
| 1992 | 45 | — | #6,833 | #2,335 |
| 1991 | 42 | — | #4,263 | #3,400 |
| 1990 | 36 | — | #5,393 | #3,241 |
| 1989 | 46 | — | #4,428 | #2,573 |
| 1988 | 33 | — | #6,048 | #2,804 |
| 1987 | 30 | — | #8,329 | #2,517 |
| 1986 | 34 | — | #4,835 | #2,841 |
| 1985 | 27 | — | #5,496 | #3,304 |
| 1984 | 30 | — | #7,714 | #2,328 |
| 1983 | 44 | — | #4,990 | #1,843 |
| 1982 | 34 | — | #9,746 | #1,960 |
| 1981 | 54 | — | #5,080 | #1,530 |
| 1980 | 32 | — | #7,053 | #2,245 |