Maasai
A Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Name Census estimates that about 148 living Americans carry the first name Maasai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Maasai today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maasai births was 2020 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maasai. 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.
People living today
148
~ 1 in 2,315,908 Americans
Peak year
2020
19 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,048
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Maasai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maasai from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 84 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
Maasai 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 Maasai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Maasais live
Origin
Meaning and history of Maasai
The name Maasai has its origins in the Maasai people, an indigenous ethnic group inhabiting parts of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Maasai are renowned for their semi-nomadic pastoralist lifestyle, rich culture, and traditional attire. The name itself is derived from the language of the Maasai people, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family.
While the exact time period when the name Maasai emerged is unclear, it is believed to have been in use for centuries, reflecting the long-standing presence of the Maasai people in the region. The name is closely associated with the vast savannas and grasslands that the Maasai have traditionally inhabited, serving as a testament to their deep connection with the land and their way of life.
In terms of historical references, the name Maasai has been mentioned in various accounts and travelogues by explorers, missionaries, and anthropologists who encountered the Maasai people during their expeditions in East Africa. These accounts often described their unique customs, social structures, and their remarkable ability to thrive in the harsh environment of the savannas.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Maasai can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who lived among the Maasai in the mid-19th century. Krapf documented the language, culture, and traditions of the Maasai people, providing valuable insights into their way of life.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Maasai, although it is more commonly used as a surname or a tribal identifier rather than a given name. Here are a few examples:
1. Laibon Maasai (birth and death dates unknown): A renowned traditional healer and spiritual leader among the Maasai people in the late 19th century.
2. Sendeu Maasai (c. 1860 - 1930): A Maasai elder and diplomat who played a significant role in negotiating land treaties with British colonial authorities in the early 20th century.
3. Joseph Maasai (1920 - 2005): A Kenyan politician and member of parliament who advocated for the rights of the Maasai people during the post-colonial era.
4. Naipoi Maasai (birth and death dates unknown): A celebrated Maasai warrior and leader in the late 19th century, known for his bravery and prowess in battle.
5. Lorna Maasai (1942 - present): A Kenyan author and educator who has written extensively about the Maasai culture and traditions, contributing to the preservation of their heritage.
It is worth noting that while the name Maasai is deeply rooted in the culture and identity of the Maasai people, its usage as a given name is relatively uncommon outside of their community. However, its significance lies in its ability to represent the rich heritage, resilience, and traditions of one of Africa's most iconic ethnic groups.
People
Maasai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maasai as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Maasai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maasai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 148 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maasai 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 2,315,908 US residents.
Is Maasai a common name?
We classify Maasai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 149 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maasai most popular?
The single biggest year for Maasai was 2020, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maasai is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Maasai in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Maasai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maasai 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.
Is Maasai still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Maasai in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Maasai can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Maasai?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.