Hachalu
A masculine name of Amharic origin meaning "savior" or "redeemer".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Hachalu. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hachalu today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hachalu births was 2020 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hachalu. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hachalu. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2020
11 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2020 SSA rank
#7,185
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Hachalu: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Hachalu 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 Hachalu during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Geography
Where Hachalus live
Origin
Meaning and history of Hachalu
Hachalu is a name with origins in the Amharic language, which is the official language of Ethiopia. The name can be traced back to the ancient Semitic roots of the region, where it was likely derived from the combination of two words: "hachu" meaning "joy" or "happiness" and "alu" meaning "high" or "exalted."
In the centuries-old tradition of Amharic naming conventions, Hachalu was often given to newborn boys as a way to express the parents' hope for their child to lead a joyful and elevated life. The name's positive connotations and cultural significance made it a popular choice among Ethiopian families.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Hachalu can be found in the Kebra Nagast, a renowned literary work that dates back to the 14th century. This ancient text, considered a significant part of Ethiopia's national epic, includes references to individuals bearing the name, suggesting its widespread use at the time.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Hachalu. One such individual was Hachalu Hundessa (c. 1920-1980), a renowned Ethiopian poet and playwright whose works played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the country's rich cultural heritage.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Hachalu Aberra (1932-2008), a distinguished Ethiopian diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to various nations, including the United States and the Soviet Union.
In the realm of sports, Hachalu Taye (born 1970) made a significant impact as an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He won numerous international competitions, including the prestigious Boston Marathon in 1998, further elevating the name's recognition on the global stage.
Hachalu Gudeta (born 1956) is another notable figure, having served as the President of the Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2010, making significant contributions to the region's development and governance.
Lastly, Hachalu Amba (1942-2021) was a revered Ethiopian artist and sculptor, whose works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional and modern styles, capturing the essence of his country's rich cultural heritage.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Hachalu throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the cultural tapestry of Ethiopia and beyond.
People
Hachalu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hachalu as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hachalu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hachalu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hachalu 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Hachalu a common name?
We classify Hachalu as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hachalu most popular?
The single biggest year for Hachalu was 2020, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hachalu is about 6 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 Hachalu in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hachalu a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hachalu 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 Hachalu still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hachalu 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 Hachalu 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 many people share the name Hachalu?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.