Azai
A masculine name of unknown origin and uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 1,271 living Americans carry the first name Azai. It is a predominantly male name (98.8% of registrations). The average person named Azai today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Azai births was 2024 (260 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Azai. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Azai is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 6 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 269,673 Americans
Peak year
2024
260 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#921
Tracked since 2008
Gender
Gender distribution for Azai
Azai leans heavily male at 98.8% of total registrations, but 15 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Azai as a male name
- Ranked #921 in 2024
- 251 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (251 births)
Azai as a female name
- Ranked #10,355 in 2024
- 9 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (9 births)
Popularity
Azai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Azai from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 883 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Azai by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Azai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Azais live
The SSA's state-level files cover 23 states and territories. Florida, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Azai, while Tennessee, South Carolina, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 35 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Azai
The name Azai is believed to have originated in the Akan language of Ghana and parts of West Africa. Derived from the word "aza," which means "to be born on," the name likely referred to the day of the week or circumstances surrounding a child's birth.
In ancient Akan culture, names were carefully chosen to reflect significant events, traits, or hopes for a newborn. Azai may have been given to a child born under auspicious conditions or during a special time. The name's precise origins are unclear, but its roots can be traced back several centuries in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Azai appears in a 16th-century text documenting the Asante Empire, a powerful Akan kingdom in what is now modern-day Ghana. The text mentions an Azai who served as a trusted advisor to the Asante ruler, suggesting the name held prestige within the royal court.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Azai. In the 18th century, Azai Mbra was a revered Akan spiritual leader and healer, renowned for her vast knowledge of traditional medicine and rituals. Her teachings and practices profoundly influenced generations of healers in West Africa.
Another prominent figure was Azai Annan, a 19th-century Ghanaian artist and sculptor celebrated for his intricate wood carvings depicting scenes from Akan folklore and daily life. His works are considered significant cultural treasures and are displayed in museums around the world.
In the early 20th century, Azai Quarmyne was a pioneering Ghanaian educator who established several schools and advocated for equal access to education for girls and women. She played a pivotal role in advancing educational opportunities in her country.
More recently, Azai Kpakpo (1932-2010) was a renowned Ghanaian musician and composer, widely regarded as a master of the traditional Ewe drum ensemble. His compositions and performances helped preserve and promote the rich musical heritage of West Africa on an international stage.
While not as common outside of its cultural origins, the name Azai has endured as a symbol of its Akan roots, carrying a rich tapestry of history and significance from generation to generation.
People
Azai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Azai as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Azai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Azai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,271 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Azai going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 269,673 US residents.
Is Azai a common name?
We classify Azai as "Rare". It ranks above 91.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,280 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Azai most popular?
The single biggest year for Azai was 2024, when 260 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Azai is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Azai a male name?
Yes, 98.8% of people registered as Azai in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.