UK girl's name
Nai
A name of Hawaiian origin meaning "brilliant" or "shining.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nai is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2018 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Nai. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nai ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 girls were registered as Nai.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Nai mean?
The name Nai has its origins in various cultures and languages across the world. It is believed to have derived from an ancient Sanskrit word "naya," which means "leader" or "guide." The name was popular in ancient India and was often given to individuals who were revered for their wisdom and leadership qualities.
In ancient Egyptian culture, the name Nai was associated with the concept of "water" or "river." The Nile River played a crucial role in the development of Egyptian civilization, and the name Nai was often given to individuals born near or associated with the river. It was a symbol of life, fertility, and abundance.
The name Nai also has roots in Hebrew, where it was a variant of the name Naiah, which means "wanderer" or "traveler." This name was often given to individuals who embarked on spiritual or physical journeys, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of ancient Hebrew tribes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nai can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Nai was a prominent figure, known for his wisdom and counsel. Another historical figure bearing this name was Nai Pandan, a renowned scholar and poet from the Malay Archipelago during the 16th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Nai. Nai Xian, a Chinese philosopher and writer who lived during the 3rd century AD, was renowned for his contributions to Taoism and his poetic works. Nai Mudaliar, an Indian philosopher and social reformer from the 19th century, played a significant role in advocating for women's education and social justice.
In the realm of the arts, Nai Kwang, a Thai painter and sculptor from the 18th century, is celebrated for his intricate Buddhist artworks that adorned numerous temples throughout Thailand. Nai Willi, a German artist and sculptor active in the early 20th century, was renowned for his avant-garde works that challenged traditional artistic conventions.
Another prominent figure was Nai Chaung Tun, a Burmese politician and diplomat who served as the first prime minister of Burma (now Myanmar) after the country's independence in 1948. His leadership and efforts to establish a democratic government in the post-colonial era left a lasting impact on the nation's history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nai over time
The chart below shows babies named Nai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nai, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nai was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5625 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nai
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nai in the UK right now?
In 2022, Nai was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Nai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nai?
A name of Hawaiian origin meaning "brilliant" or "shining.".
How many people are called Nai in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Nai across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.