FAQ

Find answers to our most frequent questions

About the service

  • What is Nationalize?

    Nationalize is an API that predicts the nationality of a person based on their name. It returns a ranked list of the most likely countries (as ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes) with probability scores. For example, querying "Müller" returns Germany as the top prediction. You can try it instantly in your browser at api.nationalize.io?name=muller.

  • How are the three APIs related?

    All three APIs share one ~1 billion-row dataset and one API key. A single subscription covers gender, age, and nationality predictions.

  • Who uses these APIs?

    Our APIs are used by academic researchers, data scientists, marketers, HR teams, journalists, and developers worldwide. Notable users include The Guardian, MIT, Columbia University, Yale University, Uber, Shopify, Nature, and The Washington Post. Genderize.io alone has been cited in over 1,400 academic papers.

How it works

  • How does nationality prediction work?

    Names carry strong cultural signals — "Nakamura" maps to Japan, "García" to Spanish-speaking countries. Nationalize returns up to five country predictions per name, each with an ISO code and probability — see the API reference .

  • What names should I send — first name, last name, or full name?

    Last names tend to carry the strongest nationality signal, so we recommend sending the last name for best results. However, the API also accepts full names and will attempt to parse them automatically.

  • Can I send multiple names in one request?

    Yes. You can send up to 10 names per request using array syntax: name[]=anna&name[]=john&name[]=kim. Each name counts individually toward your usage limit.

  • What happens if a name isn't in your dataset?

    The API tries the name directly, then with diacritics removed, then parses a first or last name out of a full name (also retried without diacritics). If all attempts miss, prediction fields return null.

Data & accuracy

  • How big is your dataset?

    Our dataset consists of around a billion data rows covering 249 countries and territories. You can explore the full coverage breakdown on our Our Data page.

  • Where does the data come from?

    Our data is collected from publicly available sources across the web. We have been collecting and processing name-based demographic data for over 12 years.

  • How accurate is nationality prediction?

    Accuracy depends on how distinctive the name is — "Yamamoto" maps cleanly to Japan; "Smith" spreads across many English-speaking countries.

  • Is Nationalize used in academic research?

    Yes. Researchers use Nationalize to study cultural representation, migration patterns, and diversity in datasets across various fields. You can find papers referencing Nationalize.io on Google Scholar . If you use Nationalize in a paper, we'd love to hear about it.

Use cases & integrations

  • Can the tool be integrated with CRM systems?

    Yes. You can enrich CRM data with gender, age, and nationality predictions through our official no-code integrations : n8n and Pipedream work with all three APIs, and Zapier and Make are available for Genderize. For LLM-driven CRMs, you can also connect via our MCP server . For more custom setups, the API is straightforward to call from any CRM with webhook or API support.

  • Can I use the APIs without writing code?

    Yes. We offer a Spreadsheet tool that lets you upload a file and get predictions added as new columns. We also have official no-code integrations : n8n and Pipedream for all three APIs, plus Zapier and Make for Genderize. For agent-based workflows, each service exposes an MCP server .

  • Can I connect my AI agent?

    Yes. Each service exposes a hosted MCP server that works with Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, and any other MCP-compatible client.

Research & ethics

  • What should researchers consider when using name-based prediction in academic studies?

    Report which API and parameters you used, acknowledge that name-based inference is a statistical tendency rather than individual identity, and be transparent about how uncertain predictions are handled.

  • What are the limitations of name-based prediction?

    Gender prediction is binary and won't capture non-binary identities. Some names are genuinely ambiguous and will yield low-confidence results. Predictions reflect population statistics, not individual certainty — use the probability and count fields to assess confidence.

Pricing & plans

  • Is the API free to use?

    Yes. Sign up for 2,500 names/month free — no credit card required. Paid subscriptions start at $20/month.

  • What do I get with a paid subscription?

    One API key covers all three APIs (Genderize, Agify, Nationalize). Plans range from 25,000 names/month ($20) to 25,000,000/month ($540). Annual billing saves two months.

  • How is usage counted?

    We count names, not API calls. If you send a batch of 100 names in a single request, that counts as 100 names against your monthly limit. A CSV upload with 10,000 rows counts as 10,000 names. One name in, one name counted — however you send it.

  • What happens if I exceed my plan's limit?

    Requests above your limit return a 429 Too Many Requests response until your next billing cycle starts. We never charge overage fees. Upgrade takes effect immediately.

  • Can I change plans mid-cycle?

    Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately and we prorate the difference. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, so you keep the higher limit until then.

  • Do unused names roll over to next month?

    No. Limits reset at the start of each billing cycle.

  • What's the difference between monthly and yearly billing?

    Yearly billing costs the same as 10 months of monthly billing — you get two months free. You're charged once per year and your limit resets monthly as usual.

  • Will my price go up if you change your pricing?

    No. Your subscription stays at the price you signed up at for as long as you remain subscribed. If we raise prices, only new customers pay the new rate. Cancel and resubscribe later and you'll be on whatever the current pricing is at that point.

  • Can I cancel anytime?

    Yes. Cancel from your dashboard in one click. You keep access until the end of your current billing period, and we don't ask why or try to talk you out of it.

Payments & billing

  • What payment methods do you accept?

    All major credit and debit cards, plus PayPal, processed through Stripe. For yearly Enterprise plans we also support invoicing and bank transfer.

  • Is my payment information safe?

    We use Stripe as our payment provider. Your credit card details and billing information are stored with Stripe and never touch our systems.

  • How can I update my billing information or payment method?

    Go to your account page and click "Billing dashboard" under the Billing management section. This takes you to Stripe's billing portal where you can update your details.

  • My card was declined. Will you retry the charge?

    We cannot manually trigger a charge. Stripe will retry up to four times within two weeks. As long as a working payment method is on file before the last attempt, you'll be fine.

Getting started & API usage

  • How do I get an API key?

    Sign up for a free account — your API key shows up in your dashboard immediately. Upgrade from your dashboard whenever you need higher limits.

  • Is there any rate limiting?

    There is no rate limiting — you can make requests as fast as you need. All plans (free and paid) have a monthly name allowance that resets each billing cycle.

  • What kind of customer support do you offer?

    Email info@genderize.io for any questions.

Privacy & compliance

  • What data do you store about my API requests?

    We don't store the names you submit via the API — they're discarded immediately, not written to any database or log. CSV uploads are processed in memory; the results file is deleted after you download it or after 24 hours. We don't log IP addresses.

  • Is the service GDPR compliant?

    Demografix ApS is a Danish company, directly subject to the GDPR. We practice data minimization by design: we don't store the names you submit, we don't log IP addresses, and our website analytics are cookieless. For full details, see our GDPR & Data Protection page and our Privacy Policy .

  • Do you offer a Data Processing Agreement (DPA)?

    Yes. Our Data Processing Agreement is available and applies automatically through our Terms of Service. If your organization requires a countersigned copy, contact us at info@genderize.io .

  • Where are your servers located?

    Our infrastructure is hosted by DigitalOcean in the United States. For details on international data transfers and the safeguards in place, see our GDPR & Data Protection page.