Enzi
A name of Swahili origin meaning "mighty" or "powerful ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 156 living Americans carry the first name Enzi. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 75.8% of registrations being male. The average person named Enzi today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Enzi births was 2024 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Enzi. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Enzi with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
156
~ 1 in 2,197,143 Americans
Peak year
2024
29 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,494
Tracked since 2003
Gender
Gender distribution for Enzi
Enzi is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 157 total registrations, 119 (75.8%) were male and 38 (24.2%) were female.
Enzi as a male name
- Ranked #5,494 in 2024
- 17 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (18 births)
Enzi as a female name
- Ranked #8,577 in 2024
- 12 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (12 births)
Popularity
Enzi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Enzi from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 111 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Enzi by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Enzi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Enzi
The name Enzi is believed to have originated in East Africa, specifically in the regions now known as Tanzania and Kenya. It is derived from the Bantu languages spoken in these areas, where it means "ruler" or "king." The name's origins can be traced back to the 15th century when several powerful kingdoms, such as the Buganda and Bunyoro, thrived in the Great Lakes region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Enzi can be found in the oral traditions and historical accounts of the Baganda people. Enzi was the name given to a prominent chief who ruled over a significant portion of present-day Uganda in the late 16th century. His leadership and influence were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the region during that era.
In the 17th century, the name Enzi gained further prominence when it was adopted by a renowned warrior and strategist from the Maasai tribe. This Enzi played a crucial role in defending his people against external threats and was highly respected for his bravery and tactical prowess.
Another notable figure bearing the name Enzi was a revered spiritual leader and healer among the Kikuyu people of present-day Kenya in the 18th century. Enzi's wisdom and deep connection with nature were widely acknowledged, and he is credited with preserving many traditional practices and beliefs.
In the 19th century, an influential chief named Enzi rose to prominence among the Chagga people of northern Tanzania. He was instrumental in negotiating peace treaties and fostering trade relationships with neighboring communities, contributing to the region's stability and prosperity during his reign.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, Enzi Monela was a prominent Tanzanian politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement. Born in 1923, he dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of his people and was a vocal critic of colonial rule. Enzi Monela's legacy continues to inspire generations of Tanzanians.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Enzi, a name deeply rooted in the cultures and traditions of East Africa, reflecting its association with leadership, wisdom, and reverence.
People
Enzi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Enzi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Enzi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Enzi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 156 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Enzi going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,197,143 US residents.
Is Enzi a common name?
We classify Enzi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 157 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Enzi most popular?
The single biggest year for Enzi was 2024, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Enzi is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Enzi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Enzi a male name?
Yes, 75.8% of people registered as Enzi in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Enzi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Enzi in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Enzi can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Enzi?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.