Boy · #9,631 in 2026

Ngai

Ngai is the central deity in the traditional spiritualities of the Gĩkũyũ, as well as the related Embu, Meru, Kamba, and Maasai peoples of Kenya and Tanzania. Within these belief systems, Ngai is recognized as the creator of the universe and all existing things. Traditional worship often involves facing Mount Kenya, a location of central spiritual significance to these communities.

Current Rank
#9,631
Peak Rank
#1,699 (1970)
Total Babies
66
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1970
First Year
1998
Last Year
1970
Peak Year
#1699
Peak Rank
66
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Ngai

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Ngai is the central deity in the traditional spiritualities of the Gĩkũyũ, as well as the related Embu, Meru, Kamba, and Maasai peoples of Kenya and Tanzania. Within these belief systems, Ngai is recognized as the creator of the universe and all existing things. Traditional worship often involves facing Mount Kenya, a location of central spiritual significance to these communities.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Ngai

Ngai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1970, with 26 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1970, when 26 Ngais were born — ranking #1,699 that year. As of 2026, Ngai ranks #9,631 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 66 Ngais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
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KS
AR
TN
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SC
AK
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NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
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Top 10
11-50
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101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Ngai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ngai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ngai

What does the name Ngai mean?
Ngai is the central deity in the traditional spiritualities of the Gĩkũyũ, as well as the related Embu, Meru, Kamba, and Maasai peoples of Kenya and Tanzania. Within these belief systems, Ngai is recognized as the creator of the universe and all existing things. Traditional worship often involves facing Mount Kenya, a location of central spiritual significance to these communities.
How popular is Ngai in 2026?
In 2026, Ngai ranks #9,631 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Ngai most popular?
Ngai reached its peak popularity in 1970, ranking #1,699 that year with 26 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Ngai most popular?
Ngai has historically been most popular in New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Ngai.
Is Ngai a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Ngai is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Ngai?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ngai include Barclay, Spiro, Zacary. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Barclay
Peak #1699
👦
Spiro
Peak #1699
👦
Zacary
Peak #1699
👦
Cauy
Peak #1699
👦
Kashtyn
Peak #1699
👦
Vasco
Peak #1698
👦
Lennart
Peak #1698
👦
Ermon
Peak #1698

About the name Ngai

Ngai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1970 and has accumulated 66 births in the dataset. Ngai's peak popularity came in 1970 when it ranked #1,699. Use the chart and map above to compare Ngai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.