Masai is taken from the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, famous for their red cloth, cattle herding and warrior tradition; the name is a plural of Maa and means "speakers of the Maa language". African American parents have adopted it as a name of heritage and strength, in the company of Zaire and Kairo. Masai has risen steadily from number 4492 in 2015 to number 1511 in 2025, its highest rank so far.