Holding steady.
Popularity of Nzinga since 1972
Babies named Nzinga per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 82 |
| 1980s | 65 |
| 1990s | 92 |
| 2000s | 40 |
| 2010s | 31 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Meaning & origin
Nzinga is a powerful and culturally significant name with Kimbundu roots, honoring the legendary 17th-century Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba. In the United States, the name first appeared in records in 1972, reaching its peak year of 1975 in terms of occurrences. Since then, its usage has remained stable but very low, and it has never entered the top 1000 rankings. The name has no recorded top states, reflecting its rarity. Nzinga remains a distinctive choice that carries deep historical resonance, particularly within African and African American communities.
Nzinga is a Kimbundu name from the Mbundu people of Angola. It means "queen" and is famously associated with Queen Nzinga (also spelled Njinga), a 17th-century ruler who resisted Portuguese colonization. The name has been used among African diaspora communities and gained modest recognition in the United States since the 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zing, Zinga
Variants: Njinga, Nzingha
Sibling names for Nzinga
Names that share Nzinga's style, for a brother or sister.
