Given name

Nairobi

“woman from the capital of Kenya”·“from the capital of Kenya”

Nairobi is used as a given name. Interpretations include “woman from the capital of Kenya” (African) and “from the capital of Kenya” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.

Meaning & origin

What it means

Interpretations include “woman from the capital of Kenya” (African) and “from the capital of Kenya” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.

Where it comes from

An origin associated with this spelling is African.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1971. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Nairobi through the years

Babies since 1880
1,596
35 boys · 1,561 girls
Most popular year
2021
242 babies
2025
106
#1,870 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
+148%
Rising fast
Boys Girls
050100150198020002025Highest share 2021Boys 0.0Girls 66
Nairobi in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1971–2025, per million births of each sex. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inGeorgia, Florida, North Carolina
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Georgia (9), Florida (10), North Carolina (5), California (13), New York (5).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 106 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,870 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 146.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 673 as a first name in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Nairobi’s family of names

Nairobi has a related form in Nairoby. Nairobi has a related form in Nayrobi. Nairobi has a related form in Naerobi.

Walk Nairobi’s family in the name graph

NairobiNairobyNayrobiNayrobyNairobieNairobeeNaerobiNayrobieNairobeyNaerobieNayrobeaNairobeaNayrobeeNayrobey

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Similar names

If you love Nairobi, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

African · Modern

Neema

“born into prosperity”

27RareSteady

>99% girls

African · Modern

Xolani

“one who asks forgiveness”

48UncommonRising fast

7% boys · 93% girls

African · Modern

Afia

“born on a Friday”

25RareSteady

>99% girls

Arabic · Modern

Naima

“a contented woman” · “one who brings comfort and peace”

39RareEasing

>99% girls

African · Modern

Umi

“a giver of life”

23RareRising fast

17% boys · 83% girls

African · Modern

Bahati

“one with good fortune”

18Very rareRising fast

14% boys · 86% girls

African · Modern

Safia

“one who is pure” · “having the lion's share”

36RareRising

>99% girls

African · Modern

Zarina

“golden, a golden vessel” · “the golden one; made of gold”

37RareRising

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Nairobi’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Nairobi

A sister for Nairobi