Total births
48
Girls' name · since 1977
Kawanza
48 babies named Kawanza in U.S. Social Security records since 1977, with the highest year being 1980. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 48
- total births
- 1977–1996
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 52%
- born in that decade
Kawanza sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 48 recorded since 1977.
Social Security Administration records show Kawanza recorded 48 times among girls since 1977, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1977 to 1996.
- 48 total births
- 1977–1996 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 52% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
48 girls have been named Kawanza since 1977, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 1996.
- 48
- total births
- 1977–1996
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 52%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
52% of everyone ever named Kawanza was born in this single decade.
1980
Single peak year
15 babies were named Kawanza in 1980 - its busiest year on record.
Kawanza's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kawanza's SSA record in two at 1980 and the more recent half accounts for 63% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 37%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1977, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1980 peak of 15, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kawanza at a glance
Last recorded 1996Peak year
1980
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1977
Kawanza popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1977–1996
- Peak year (1980)
- 15
- Annual births at peak, across 20 years of records
Kawanza by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Kawanza's strongest decade.
25 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 52% of all-time use.
Kawanza births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
18 births
- 1980s
1980s
25 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 25 births (52% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kawanza? ▼
Since 1977, Social Security records show 48 babies named Kawanza. The most recent recorded year was 1996. Its busiest year on record was 1980, with 15 births.
When was Kawanza most popular? ▼
Kawanza was most popular in the 1980s decade with 25 total births. The single peak year was 1980.
How long has the name Kawanza been used? ▼
Kawanza has been recorded in Social Security data since 1977, spanning 20 years of data through 1996.
What names are similar to Kawanza? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kawana, Kawanna, Kawanda, Kawthar, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Kawanza's data
- Kawanza's decade-level peak was the 1980s (25 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kawanza
Nearby Names Like Kawanza
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kawanza
Kawana Girl
960 births
Kawanna Girl
551 births
Kawanda Girl
423 births
Kawthar Girl
#8669 243 births
Kawena Girl
#15923 181 births
Compare Kawanza side by side: Kawanza vs Kawana Kawanza vs Kawanna Kawanza vs Kawanda
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1977–1996 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kawanza: Baby Name Since 1977 - 48 Births, Peak 1980." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kawanza. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kawanza draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.