Pure or chosen one
The name Nakaya is of uncertain etymology but is often associated with the Japanese name Nakaya, meaning 'middle valley.' In other contexts, it is sometimes interpreted as a variation of the name Nakia, which has Arabic roots meaning 'pure' or 'chosen.'
Less common today
Nakaya isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #4,596 in 2002.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
