Explore the Family Name Nakai
The meaning of Nakai
1. Native American (Navajo): from an American English spelling of a (shortened) Navajo personal name based on the name naakaii for a Mexican or for a member of the Navajo clan Naakaii dine’é ‘Mexican People’. 2. Japanese: written 中井 ‘central well’. It originated in Mikawa (now part of Aichi prefecture), and is also found in the island of Okinawa. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Katsumasa, Kazuo, Tomoko, Fumio, Harue, Haruo, Hideaki, Hideo, Junichi, Junko, Kaoru, Keiko.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nakai in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Nakai has maintained a relatively stable popularity in the United States over the past decade. In 2000, Nakai ranked 21,565th in terms of frequency, with 1,128 individuals bearing the name, translating to 0.42 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the rank slightly slipped to 21,633, though the count rose to 1,205, or 0.41 per 100,000 people, indicating a minor decrease in proportion by 2.38 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,565 | #21,633 | -0.32% |
| Count | 1,128 | 1,205 | 6.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.42 | 0.41 | -2.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nakai
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Nakai, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that it is predominantly linked to Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. In 2000, 43.88 percent of Nakais were Asian/Pacific Islander, decreasing to 35.85 percent by 2010. The percentage of Nakais identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native increased from 45.48 percent in 2000 to 48.80 percent in 2010. There was also a notable rise in those identifying as two or more races, from 4.52 percent in 2000 to 5.98 percent in 2010, alongside an emergence of Hispanic (3.98%) and Black (0.50%) identities among individuals bearing this surname in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 45.48% | 48.8% | 7.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 43.88% | 35.85% | -18.3% |
| Two or More Races | 4.52% | 5.98% | 32.3% |
| White | 3.99% | 4.9% | 22.81% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.98% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0.5% | 0% |