Home › Baby Names Directory › Masai
Masai
Pronounced MAS-ay /ˈmæs.eɪ/Low
Meaning: From the Maasai people of East Africa; the ethnonym means 'speaker of Maa'.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Rather than an ordinary given name, Masai draws directly on the ethnonym of the Maasai, meaning 'speaker of Maa'. Basketball executive Masai Ujiri, who built the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors and was the first African-born GM in major North American sports, has made the name widely recognized.
As a name rooted in a people and a language rather than a single meaning, Masai carries a strong sense of cultural identity.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Masai Ujiri (b. 1970)Nigerian-Canadian basketball executive who, as president of the Toronto Raptors, built the team that won the 2019 NBA championship; he was the first African-born GM in major North American sports.
Frequently Asked
What does the name Masai mean?
Masai comes from the Maasai, an ethnic group of Kenya and Tanzania. Their name derives from Maa, the language they speak, so it is taken to mean 'one who speaks Maa'.
How do you pronounce Masai?
It's commonly said MAS-ay /ˈmæs.eɪ/.
Is Masai a boy or girl name?
In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Masai is used as a boy name.
How popular is Masai?
In 2024, Masai ranked #1823 in the U.S. for boys, with 89 births recorded.