Fallou
A masculine Arabic name meaning "prosperous" or "successful".
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the first name Fallou. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fallou today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fallou births was 2005 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fallou. 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.
People living today
122
~ 1 in 2,809,462 Americans
Peak year
2005
14 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2022 SSA rank
#10,140
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Fallou: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fallou from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 56 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fallou 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 Fallou during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Fallous live
Origin
Meaning and history of Fallou
The name Fallou has its origins in West Africa, specifically in the Wolof language spoken in Senegal and parts of neighboring countries like Gambia and Mauritania. The name is believed to have emerged sometime in the medieval era, around the 13th or 14th century.
Fallou is derived from the Wolof word "fall," which means "to give birth" or "to bear a child." This suggests that the name was likely initially given to children born after a difficult or prolonged labor, signifying the relief and joy of their arrival.
In the early days, the name Fallou was predominantly used within the Wolof ethnic group and the broader Serer communities of Senegal. It was a name steeped in cultural significance, reflecting the importance of childbirth and the continuation of lineages in these societies.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fallou can be found in the oral histories and genealogies passed down through generations of Wolof griots (storytellers and historians). These oral traditions often mentioned individuals bearing the name, though exact dates are difficult to pinpoint.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fallou. One of the most prominent was Fallou Ngom (1820-1900), a Senegalese religious leader and founder of the Mouride Brotherhood, a influential Sufi Muslim order in Senegal. He played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region and is revered by his followers.
Another historical figure was Fallou Ndiaye (1925-2012), a Senegalese politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1962 to 1964. He was also Senegal's Ambassador to the United States and represented his country at the United Nations.
In the realm of sports, Fallou Diop (born 1984) is a Senegalese professional basketball player who has played for various teams in Europe and the NBA G League. He has also represented Senegal in international competitions.
The name Fallou has also been borne by several writers and intellectuals, including Fallou Ngom (born 1935), a Senegalese professor and author who has written extensively on African literature and culture.
Lastly, Fallou Sene (born 1980) is a Senegalese musician and composer known for his fusion of traditional Senegalese music with contemporary styles. He has helped popularize Senegalese music both at home and abroad.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Fallou throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural significance and enduring presence in the region.
People
Fallou + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fallou as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fallou: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fallou?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 122 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fallou 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 2,809,462 US residents.
Is Fallou a common name?
We classify Fallou as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 123 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fallou most popular?
The single biggest year for Fallou was 2005, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fallou is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Fallou a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fallou 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.
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.