Nakai
Every Nakai since 1974 — 1,132 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nakai
Nakai is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,275 in 2025 with 62 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1974, 1,132 American babies have been named Nakai — about 84% boys and 16% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 62 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nakai stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nakai year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 62 | #2,275 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,845 | 40 | #3,080 |
| 2023 | — | — | 49 | #2,680 |
| 2022 | — | — | 41 | #3,038 |
| 2021 | 7 | #13,099 | 54 | #2,482 |
| 2020 | 6 | #14,594 | 34 | #3,321 |
| 2019 | 13 | #8,470 | 32 | #3,541 |
| 2018 | 9 | #11,177 | 27 | #3,958 |
| 2017 | — | — | 40 | #2,987 |
| 2016 | 5 | #18,060 | 33 | #3,412 |
| 2015 | 7 | #14,051 | 38 | #3,065 |
| 2014 | — | — | 36 | #3,141 |
| 2013 | 7 | #14,186 | 27 | #3,825 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,950 | 24 | #4,215 |
| 2011 | 6 | #16,194 | 24 | #4,178 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16,362 | 24 | #4,198 |
| 2009 | — | — | 32 | #3,454 |
| 2008 | 14 | #8,839 | 39 | #3,046 |
| 2007 | 7 | #15,002 | 44 | #2,751 |
| 2006 | — | — | 35 | #3,133 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12,668 | 32 | #3,214 |
| 2004 | 12 | #9,101 | 34 | #2,997 |
| 2003 | 7 | #13,412 | 28 | #3,337 |
| 2002 | — | — | 10 | #6,890 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14,795 | 23 | #3,689 |
| 2000 | 6 | #14,459 | 6 | #9,926 |
| 1995 | — | — | 6 | #8,544 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,700 | 9 | #3,843 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Nakai in 2025?
Nakai ranked #2,275 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 62 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nakai?
1,132 babies have been named Nakai in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nakai most popular?
Nakai peaked in 2025, when 62 newborns received the name.
Is Nakai a boy or girl name?
Nakai is used for both: about 16% of babies named Nakai have been girls and 84% boys.
Is the name Nakai rising or falling?
Nakai is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.