Karega
Masculine name of African origin meaning "one who does".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Karega. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Karega today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Karega births was 1979 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Karega. 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 Karega. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1979
6 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1981 SSA rank
#6,782
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Karega: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Karega from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 6 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
Karega 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 Karega 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 Karega
The given name Karega is a relatively uncommon name with its origins traced back to various parts of Africa. It is derived from the Swahili word "karega," which means "to save" or "to protect." The name is believed to have originated among the Bantu-speaking peoples of East Africa, particularly in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karega can be found in the historical accounts of the Kingdom of Buganda, a powerful kingdom that existed in present-day Uganda from the 14th to the 19th century. During this period, Karega was the name of a prominent chief who played a significant role in the kingdom's political affairs.
In the realm of ancient texts and religious scriptures, the name Karega does not appear to have any direct references. However, its meaning of "saving" or "protecting" resonates with the values and principles upheld by various African cultures and belief systems.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Karega. One such figure was Karega Tiba (1890-1975), a Tanzanian politician and activist who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement against British colonial rule. He served as the president of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and was instrumental in shaping Tanzania's path to freedom.
Another prominent individual was Karega Munene (1920-2008), a Kenyan writer, educator, and cultural historian. He made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Gikuyu culture through his literary works and advocacy efforts.
In the realm of sports, Karega Masiko (born 1972) is a former Ugandan professional basketball player who represented his country in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the FIBA AfroBasket.
Karega Musoni (born 1965) is a Rwandan businessman and entrepreneur who has played a pivotal role in the development of the country's private sector. He has founded and led several successful companies, contributing to economic growth and job creation in Rwanda.
Karega Rwembeho (1937-2010) was a renowned Ugandan sculptor and artist, renowned for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures that depicted traditional African themes and cultural narratives. His works are celebrated for their artistic excellence and cultural significance.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Karega throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of African culture and society.
People
Karega + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Karega as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Karega: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Karega?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Karega 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Karega a common name?
We classify Karega as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% 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 Karega most popular?
The single biggest year for Karega was 1979, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Karega is about 48 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 Karega in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Karega a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Karega 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 Karega still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Karega 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 Karega 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 Karega?
See how many people share the name Karega on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.