Declining since 1995, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Africa since 1969
Babies named Africa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 441 |
| 1980s | 115 |
| 1990s | 193 |
| 2000s | 133 |
| 2010s | 99 |
| 2020s | 54 |
Meaning & origin
Africa is a rare given name in the United States, almost exclusively used for girls. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1969 and reached its peak popularity in 1972, when it ranked 10,917th with roughly 1 in 200,908 girls receiving the name. Since 1995, its use has been falling. Africa is a place name adopted amid the cultural shifts of the late 1960s and 1970s, evoking a connection to the continent. Its top states of use are not recorded due to limited data. The name remains uncommon today, chosen by parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful geographical name.
Africa is a place name adopted as a given name, inspired by the continent. Its use as a personal name in the United States dates to the late 1960s, during the Black is Beautiful movement and rising ethnic pride. The name's origin is ultimately uncertain, possibly from the Berber word 'afer' meaning 'cave' or the Phoenician 'afar' meaning 'dust'.
Sibling names for Africa
Names that share Africa's style, for a brother or sister.
