Kwashawn
A masculine given name possibly of African American origin and constructed meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kwashawn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kwashawn today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kwashawn births was 1991 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kwashawn. 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 Kwashawn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1991
5 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
1991 SSA rank
#8,986
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Kwashawn: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kwashawn 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 Kwashawn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kwashawn
The given name Kwashawn originates from the Akan language spoken in Ghana and other parts of West Africa. It is derived from the word "kwa," which means "born on" or "born during," and "shawn," which is a variant of the English name "Shawn" meaning "God is gracious." The name likely emerged in the late 20th century as a blend of these two linguistic influences.
While the name Kwashawn does not have a long historical lineage or cultural significance in traditional African societies, it has gained popularity in recent decades among African-American communities, particularly in urban areas. The unique spelling and fusion of African and Western elements reflect the diverse cultural identities and experiences of many African-Americans.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kwashawn can be found in the birth records of the late 1970s and early 1980s in various parts of the United States. However, there are no well-known historical figures or prominent individuals who have carried this name until modern times.
Kwashawn Jamar Foye, born in 1983, is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers. Kwashawn Everett, born in 1989, is an American football player who played as a defensive back in the NFL for teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers.
Kwashawn Terrell Biggers, born in 1995, is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA. Kwashawn Dwight Smith, born in 1991, is a former professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in the MLB for teams like the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kwashawn Rashawn Harper, born in 1988, is an American football coach and former player who played as a wide receiver for teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
People
Kwashawn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kwashawn 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
Kwashawn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kwashawn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kwashawn 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kwashawn a common name?
We classify Kwashawn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kwashawn most popular?
The single biggest year for Kwashawn was 1991, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kwashawn is about 34 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 Kwashawn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kwashawn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kwashawn 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 Kwashawn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kwashawn 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 Kwashawn 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 Kwashawn?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.