Nairobi
Meaningcool water · Maasai
- US rank
- #1,867
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #1,042 in 2021
106 babies were named Nairobi in the US in 2025. It has dropped 747 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1983–2025
US births per million boys, 1971–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nairobi you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 15,152 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Nairobi, 106 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Nairobi would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNairobi first shows up in US birth records in 1971, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 54 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2021, when it reached #1,042.
- Then vs nowNairobi is 12× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 181,818 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 15,152.
- TrendNairobi has slipped 747 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,867. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedNairobi is most popular in Georgia, where it ranks #984. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningIn Maasai, Nairobi means “cool water”.
About the name Nairobi
Nairobi is a girl name meaning “cool water”. It has 7 letters and 3 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-obi”. US birth records list Nairobi for girls from 1983 to 2025, in 37 of those 43 years. Its best year was 2021, when it ranked #1,042 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #1,867, with 106 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5 | 395,480 girls |
| 1990s | 4.2 | 236,407 girls |
| 2000s | 6.8 | 145,985 girls |
| 2010s | 13 | 77,760 girls |
| 2020s | 114 | 8,803 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.1 | 937,500 boys |
| 1990s | 0.5 | 2,127,660 boys |
| 2000s | 0.3 | 3,846,154 boys |
| 2020s | 0.7 | 1,379,310 boys |
Questions about the name Nairobi
What does the name Nairobi mean?
Nairobi means “cool water” in Maasai.
Is Nairobi a boy or girl name?
Nairobi is a girl name.
How popular is the name Nairobi?
Nairobi ranked #1,867 for US girls in 2025, given to 106 babies. Its best year was 2021 (#1,042).