Massai
A modern name likely derived from the Maasai people of East Africa.
Name Census estimates that about 120 living Americans carry the first name Massai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Massai today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Massai births was 2017 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Massai. 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
120
~ 1 in 2,856,286 Americans
Peak year
2017
11 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,706
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Massai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Massai from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 59 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Massai remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Massai 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 Massai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Massai
The name Massai has its origins in the Maasai people, an ethnic group inhabiting parts of Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai language is a member of the Nilo-Saharan family, and the name likely derives from the word "Masai" or "Maassai," meaning "those who speak the Maa language."
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people known for their distinctive cultural traditions, including their colorful attire, intricate beadwork, and their role as pastoralists. The name Massai reflects the cultural heritage and identity of this East African community.
While the name is not widely documented in ancient texts or historical records, it has gained recognition through the cultural significance of the Maasai people and their contributions to the rich tapestry of African societies.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Massai can be found in the writings of European explorers and missionaries who encountered the Maasai during their travels in East Africa in the 19th century. These accounts provide valuable insights into the customs and way of life of the Maasai people.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Massai, contributing to various fields and disciplines. For instance, Massai Ayaan (born 1992) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who has achieved success in international competitions. Another notable figure is Massai Lepita (1920-2001), a Maasai leader who played a crucial role in advocating for the rights and preservation of the Maasai culture.
Additionally, Massai Lemalian (born 1964) is a Tanzanian Maasai artist and sculptor, renowned for his intricate wood carvings depicting Maasai culture and traditions. Massai Mara (born 1950) is a Kenyan environmentalist and conservationist who has dedicated her life to protecting the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve and its wildlife.
Lastly, Massai Sholei (1938-2014) was a prominent Maasai elder and spiritual leader, known for his wisdom and efforts to promote the preservation of Maasai cultural practices and beliefs.
These individuals, among others, have carried the name Massai with pride, representing the rich cultural heritage of the Maasai people and contributing to various fields, including sports, art, conservation, and leadership.
People
Massai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Massai 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
Massai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Massai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 120 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Massai 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 2,856,286 US residents.
Is Massai a common name?
We classify Massai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 121 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Massai most popular?
The single biggest year for Massai was 2017, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Massai is about 12 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 Massai in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Massai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Massai 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 Massai still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Massai 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 Massai 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 people are called Massai?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.