Provided is a negative electrode active material, containing at least silicon, for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. Since the negative electrode active material contains silicon, the negative electrode active material has high capacity and excellent cycle characteristics. A negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains at least silicon. At least, one portion of the surface of each of primary particles containing silicon is covered with an inert phase made of a silicon compound with a silicon oxidation number higher than that of the silicon, a metal-silicon alloy, or metal. The primary particles containing silicon may form secondary particles. The silicon compound with a silicon oxidation number higher than that of silicon is preferably Li2Si2O5, Li2SiO3, or Li4SiO4. Furthermore, the metal-silicon alloy is preferably FeSi and the metal is preferably Ti. Furthermore, the crystallite size of silicon is 500 Å or less.