Unisex name · since 1971
Kwanza
Since 1971, U.S. Social Security records show 227 babies named Kwanza, peaking in 1978. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #18,530 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 227
- born since 1971
- 1970s
- peak decade
227 girls have been named Kwanza since 1971, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kwanza has been recorded 227 times among girls since 1971, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 1999.
- #18,530 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 227 born since 1971
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kwanza ranks #18,530 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 227 born since 1971, peaking in the 1970s.
- #18,530 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 227
- born since 1971
- 1970s
- peak decade
Kwanza's 227 recorded births place it above 74.36% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Louisiana.
Kwanza's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kwanza's SSA record in two at 1982 and the more recent half accounts for 34% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 66%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1971, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1978 peak of 29, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kwanza popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–1999
- Peak year (1978)
- 29
- Annual births at peak, across 29 years of records
Kwanza popularity over time - boys
42 total births recorded since 1972 (Kwanza as boys' name)
Kwanza by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (121 births, 53% of the file).
1970s was Kwanza's strongest decade.
121 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 53% of all-time use.
Kwanza births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
121 births
- 1980s
1980s
60 births
- 1990s 46
1990s
46 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 121 births (53% of all-time use).
Kwanza by state
Where Kwanza concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 10 | 4.4% |
10 of 227 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kwanza? ▼
Where does Kwanza sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Kwanza most popular? ▼
Where is Kwanza most popular? ▼
Is Kwanza a unisex name? ▼
How long has the name Kwanza been used? ▼
What names are similar to Kwanza? ▼
What to do with Kwanza's data
- Kwanza's usage has stayed within range of its 1970s decade-level peak (121 total births) through the 1990s (46) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Louisiana records the most Kwanzas (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kwanza
Nearby Names Like Kwanza
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kwanza
Compare Kwanza side by side: Kwanza vs Kwana Kwanza vs Kwanisha Kwanza vs Kwame
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Kwanza: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1978)
Similar record span (~28 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1971–1999 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Kwanza 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 August 2026.