Kwanza
The kwanza is the currency of Angola. Four different currencies using the name kwanza have circulated since 1977. The currency derives its name from the Kwanza River.
Meaning & Origin of Kwanza
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The kwanza is the currency of Angola. Four different currencies using the name kwanza have circulated since 1977. The currency derives its name from the Kwanza River.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kwanza
As a girl name
American parents first put Kwanza on the record books as a girl name in 1971, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1978, when 29 Kwanzas were born — ranking #2,801 that year. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 53% of all recorded Kwanzas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1999 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 227 Kwanzas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Kwanza as a boy name dates back to 1972, when 5 babies received it. 1978 was its biggest year on record, with 9 newborns named Kwanza — #3,855 in the national rankings. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 88% of all recorded Kwanzas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1995 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 42 Kwanzas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kwanza
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kwanza is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kwanza
What does the name Kwanza mean?
How popular is Kwanza in 2026?
When was Kwanza most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kwanza most popular?
Is Kwanza a unisex name?
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About the name Kwanza
Kwanza is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1971 and has accumulated 227 births in the dataset. Kwanza's peak popularity came in 1978 when it ranked #2,801. Use the chart and map above to compare Kwanza's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1978 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.