In the beginning there was ChaiScript, which is an embedded scripting language for C++. Originally it was intended to be a scripting language similar to JavaScript.

With java being a kind of hot beverage, the new language was named after another hot beverage – Chai, which is the word for “tea” in many world languages and, in particular, a popular kind of spicy milk tea consumed in India.

Later, when the novel implementation technique behind ChaiScript was ported from C++ to Rust, logically the C was changed to an R to make it “RhaiScript”, or just “Rhai”.

– Rhai author Johnathan Turner

Original prototype

One of Rhai’s maintainers, @schungx, was thinking about a logo when he accidentally came across a copy of Catcher in the Rye in a restaurant, and drew the first prototype version of the logo.

Then @semirix refined it to the current version.

@yrashk sponsored the domain rhai.rs.