Impi
A feminine name of Zulu origin meaning "army" or "warriors".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Impi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Impi today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Impi births was 1917 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Impi. 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 Impi. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1917
11 babies that year
Average age
-
1921 SSA rank
#4,749
Tracked since 1904
Popularity
Impi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Impi from the 1900s through to the 1920s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 23 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Impi 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 Impi 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 Impi
The name Impi originates from the Zulu language, spoken by the Zulu people of Southern Africa. It is an ancient name that dates back several centuries. The Zulu term "impi" refers to a military force or an army.
In traditional Zulu culture, the name Impi was often given to brave and courageous individuals, particularly those who displayed exceptional strength and valor in battle. It was a name that carried significant cultural significance and conveyed a sense of respect and admiration.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Impi can be found in Zulu oral traditions and folklore. These stories often depicted Impi as a legendary warrior or hero, celebrated for their bravery and prowess in combat. The name became closely associated with the values of strength, valor, and unwavering determination.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Impi. One of the most famous was Impi Kahazulwana, a revered Zulu warrior who lived in the late 18th century. Renowned for his exceptional skills in battle and his unwavering loyalty to the Zulu kingdom, Impi Kahazulwana played a pivotal role in several military campaigns and is remembered as a symbol of Zulu valor and resilience.
Another notable figure was Impi Mkhize, a prominent leader and advisor to the Zulu king Shaka during the early 19th century. Impi Mkhize was highly respected for his wisdom, strategic thinking, and his ability to navigate complex political and military situations. His counsel was sought by Shaka on numerous occasions, and he played a crucial role in shaping the Zulu kingdom's military strategies and policies.
In more recent times, Impi Ntuli (1924-2022) was a celebrated South African actor and playwright. Born in Natal, he made significant contributions to the development of Zulu theater and literature. His plays and performances often explored themes of cultural identity, social justice, and the struggles faced by the Zulu people during apartheid and the post-apartheid era.
Impi Mzamo (1942-2004) was a renowned South African artist and sculptor. His works, which drew heavily from Zulu cultural motifs and symbolism, were widely acclaimed for their intricate detail and their ability to capture the essence of Zulu traditions and values. Mzamo's sculptures can be found in various art galleries and museums throughout South Africa and beyond.
The name Impi has also been carried by several notable athletes, including Impi Nqayi, a former South African rugby player who represented the national team in the 1990s, and Impi Ntshumayelo, a talented sprinter who competed in international competitions during the 1980s and 1990s.
People
Impi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Impi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Impi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Impi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Impi 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 - US residents.
Is Impi a common name?
We classify Impi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 40 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Impi most popular?
The single biggest year for Impi was 1917, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Impi is about 0 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 Impi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Impi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Impi in the SSA data are female. 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 Impi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Impi 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 Impi 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 are named Impi?
Find out how many people share the name Impi on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.