Explore the Family Name Nai
The meaning of Nai
1. Indian (mainly northern states): from Sanskrit napit ‘barber’. 2. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 能, adopted in place of the surname Xiong (熊) by descendants of Xiong Zhi, prince of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC), in order to escape from political persecution. 3. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 佴, one possible origin that was traced back to Persian immigrants in present-day Jiangsu province during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). 4. Chinese: Teochew, Hokkien, and Taiwanese form of the surname 賴, see Lai 1. 5. West African (Ghana): name found among the Ga people, of unexplained etymology.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nai in the United States?
The surname Nai saw a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. The rank of the surname rose from 71,143 in 2000 to 57,234 in 2010, indicating an upward shift of 19.55%. The count of individuals with the Nai surname also grew by 39.06% during this period, increasing from 256 to 356. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, there was a 33.33% rise from 0.09 to 0.12.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #71,143 | #57,234 | 19.55% |
| Count | 256 | 356 | 39.06% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.12 | 33.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nai
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Nai surname identify as Asian or Pacific Islander, with the percentage growing slightly from 58.59% in 2000 to 59.83% in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races also saw a significant increase of 95.60%, rising from 2.73% to 5.34% over the decade. The representation of white individuals decreased by 26.47%, while the percentage of black individuals rose notably from 3.13% to 7.02%. There were no individuals who identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 58.59% | 59.83% | 2.12% |
| White | 34.38% | 25.28% | -26.47% |
| Black | 3.13% | 7.02% | 124.28% |
| Two or More Races | 2.73% | 5.34% | 95.6% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |