Nakae (written: 中江) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Nakae Chōmin (1847– 901), Japanese politician and journalist Daisuke Nakae (born 1985), Japanese professional wrestler, who is also known by his ring name Kenoh. Masato Nakae (1917–1998), United States Army soldier Shinji Nakae (1935–2007), Japanese voice actor and narrator Takao Nakae, (born 1913), Japanese basketball player Nakae Tōju (1608–1648), Japanese Confucian philosopher Yuji Nakae (born 1960), Japanese film director Yuri Nakae, Japanese singer