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Home › Baby Names Directory › Unai

Unai

♂ Boy

Pronounced oo-NY /uˈnaɪ/Medium

Meaning: A Basque name meaning 'cowherd; herdsman', from Basque unai. It became popular in the Basque Country and across Spain in the twentieth century as Basque names were revived.Medium

In 30 seconds: A Basque name of green hills: Unai means 'cowherd; herdsman' (said 'oo-NY').
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Origin MediumBasque
MeaningA Basque name meaning 'cowherd; herdsman', from Basque unai. It became popular in the Basque Country and across Spain in the twentieth century as Basque names were revived.
U.S. rank (2024)#14059 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 37

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202120172024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Unai is a Basque word name meaning 'cowherd' or 'herdsman', drawn straight from the language of the western Pyrenees. Basque names came back into wide use in the twentieth century as the culture reasserted itself, and Unai became a favourite — short, warm and unmistakably Basque. It is well known across Spain today (said 'oo-NY').

In the U.S. it appears only rarely. Rare here, popular in the Basque Country.

Did you know? Unai is Basque for a cowherd — a plain, pastoral word turned into one of the Basque Country's best-loved boys' names. It rose strongly in Spain from the late twentieth century (said 'oo-NY').
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Unai — Basque unai, 'cowherd'; modern Basque given name

Variations

UnayUnaxUneu

Nicknames

UniNai

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Unai…

Iker— a like popular Basque boy's name
Eneko— a like short Basque pick
Xabi— the same short feel
Xanti— a similarly popular pick
Ero— shares Unai's Basque roots

Explore names like Unai

By themeheritageshortnaturebasque

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Unai mean?

Unai is Basque for 'cowherd; herdsman' — a pastoral word name from the Basque Country.

How do you pronounce Unai?

It's said oo-NY /uˈnaɪ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Unai a boy or girl name?

Unai is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Unai?

Unai is a rare name for boys in the U.S., though it is popular in the Basque Country and Spain.

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