Lai is of Chinese origin and has been traditionally used as a surname, but it can also be found as a given name. The meaning behind the name varies based on its pronunciation, which differs across China's many dialects. In some regions, Lai means "plum," while in others, it translates to "beauty" or even "power." Despite its flexibility in meaning, Lai remains a unique and distinctive choice for a personal name.
The name Lai experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with peaks in the late 80s and early 90s, but has since become less common.