Holding steady.
Popularity of Kinshasa since 1971
Babies named Kinshasa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 83 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 26 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kinshasa first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1971, a time when parents were increasingly drawn to place-names with global resonance. Its peak year was 1977, when it reached its highest recorded usage, though it has always remained an extremely rare choice. In the most recent data from 2025, the name has a trajectory described as stable, meaning it persists at a very low but consistent frequency, with fewer than five annual births. Despite its rarity, Kinshasa carries a strong cultural link to the vibrant capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, making it a distinctive and meaningful option for those seeking a name with African heritage.
Kinshasa is a place-name, taken from the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city itself was named after the village of Nshasa, prior to its founding by Henry Morton Stanley in 1881. As a personal name, it emerged in the United States in the early 1970s, likely influenced by geographic names and the broader trend of place-based naming.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kinsha, Sasha
Sibling names for Kinshasa
Names that share Kinshasa's style, for a brother or sister.
