Total births
947
Unisex name · since 1974
Nakai
Since 1974, U.S. Social Security records show 947 babies named Nakai, peaking in 2025. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #3068
- among boys today
- 947
- born since 1974
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 79%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nakai is the #3068 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 947 recorded since 1974.
Nakai has 947 recorded births among boys since 1974, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #3068 as of the latest data, more common than 79% of boys, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1974 to 2025.
- #3068 among boys today
- 947 born since 1974
- 2010s peak decade
- 79% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nakai is currently the #3068 unisex name in America, more common than 79% of boys - 947 born since 1974, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3068
- among boys today
- 947
- born since 1974
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 79%
- more common than other boys
Nakai vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3068
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 79% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
32% of everyone ever named Nakai was born in this single decade.
2025
Single peak year
62 babies were named Nakai in 2025 - its busiest year on record.
How Nakai compares
947 Top 32% higher than 68% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Nakai's all-time total is 158% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nakai | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 947 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 62 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nakai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nakai splits its recorded history at 2009: 65% of all births land in the more recent half, 35% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1995 (6 births) -- compare that against the 2025 peak of 62 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nakai at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2025
Current rank
#3,068
Active since
1974
Nakai popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1974–2025
- Peak year (2025)
- 62
- Annual births at peak, across 52 years of records
Nakai popularity over time - girls
185 total births recorded since 1974 (Nakai as girls' name)
Nakai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nakai's strongest decade.
305 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Nakai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 17
1970s
17 births
- 1990s 62
1990s
62 births
- 2000s
2000s
283 births
- 2010s
2010s
305 births
- 2020s
2020s
280 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 305 births (32% of all-time use).
How Nakai compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Nakai's total volume
Nakai vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nakai by state
Where Nakai concentrates geographically, total births since 1974
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 43 | 4.5% |
| #2 | New York | | 42 | 4.4% |
| #3 | Florida | | 18 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 10 | 1.1% |
| #5 | New Jersey | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #6 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Nakai's total US births 4.5%
Even split
43 of 947 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nakai? ▼
Nakai has been given to 947 babies in the U.S. since 1974, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #3068 as of the latest data. 62 babies were born in 2025, its single highest year.
When was Nakai most popular? ▼
Nakai was most popular in the 2010s decade with 305 total births. The single peak year was 2025.
Where is Nakai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nakai are California (43 births), New York (42 births), Florida (18 births).
Is Nakai a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Nakai is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 947 births, and as a girl's name it has 185 births.
How long has the name Nakai been used? ▼
Records for Nakai go back to 1974, giving 52 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nakai? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nakia, Nakoa, Naksh, Nakota, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nakai's data
- Nakai's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (305 total births) through the 2020s (280) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nakais (43 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nakai
Nearby Names Like Nakai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nakai
Nakia Boy
2,006 births
Nakoa Boy
#1536 1,137 births
Naksh Boy
#3448 486 births
Nakota Boy
#11410 241 births
Nakari Boy
#3031 224 births
Compare Nakai side by side: Nakai vs Nakia Nakai vs Nakoa Nakai vs Naksh
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nakai
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1974–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nakai: #3068 Unisex Name - 947 Births, Peak 2025." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nakai. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Nakai draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.