Find out how popular the first name Nakai has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nakai by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nakai is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 83% of people named Nakai being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 48 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nakai.

The history of the first name Nakai

The given name Nakai has its origins in Japanese culture and language. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females. The name is derived from the Japanese words "na" meaning "greens" or "vegetables" and "kai" meaning "ocean" or "sea". Collectively, the name Nakai can be interpreted as "greens by the ocean" or "vegetables by the sea".

In ancient times, the name was often given to children born in coastal regions or near the sea, where agriculture and fishing were important aspects of daily life. The name symbolized the harmony between the land and the sea, reflecting the close relationship between the two sources of sustenance.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Nakai can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient Japanese chronicle dating back to the 8th century AD. Here, the name is mentioned in reference to a minor noble or samurai warrior.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nakai. One of the earliest examples is Nakai Tokurogen (1543-1594), a renowned Japanese poet and calligrapher during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. His works were highly acclaimed and have been preserved in various anthologies.

Another prominent figure was Nakai Chikuzen no Kami (1608-1678), a Japanese daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled over the Tosa Domain (present-day Kochi Prefecture) during the Edo period. He was known for his administrative skills and for promoting economic development in his domain.

In more modern times, Nakai Masahiro (1936-2017) was a celebrated Japanese actor and singer. He gained popularity for his roles in numerous films and television series, and his career spanned over six decades.

Nakai Noriko (born 1972) is a contemporary Japanese actress and singer. She has appeared in various television dramas, films, and stage productions, and has also released several music albums.

Nakai Atsushi (born 1986) is a Japanese professional baseball player who currently plays for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He is a highly regarded pitcher and has won multiple awards and championships throughout his career.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Nakai throughout history, reflecting the name's long-standing presence and cultural significance in Japan.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nakai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nakai, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!