Lutalo
A masculine name of Shona origin meaning "to be paid in wages".
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Lutalo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lutalo today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lutalo births was 1975 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lutalo. 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 Lutalo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1975
5 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1978 SSA rank
#6,398
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Lutalo: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Lutalo 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 Lutalo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Lutalo
The name Lutalo has its origins in the Luganda language, spoken by the Baganda people of the Buganda region in Uganda, East Africa. It is derived from the Luganda word "kutalo," which means "to fight" or "to struggle." The name is believed to have emerged during the pre-colonial era, potentially as early as the 16th century.
Historically, the name Lutalo may have been given to children born during times of conflict or struggle, symbolizing the resilience and strength of the Baganda people. It could also have been bestowed upon individuals who displayed courage and determination in the face of adversity.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Lutalo was a prominent warrior and leader during the reign of Kabaka (King) Mutesa I in the 19th century. This Lutalo played a significant role in defending the Buganda Kingdom against external threats and is celebrated for his bravery and strategic acumen.
Another notable figure was Lutalo Mukasa, a renowned traditional healer and spiritual leader who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was widely respected for his vast knowledge of traditional Baganda medicine and his ability to connect with the spiritual realm.
In more recent times, Lutalo Muhammad Ali (born 1963) was a prominent American boxer and activist who converted to Islam and adopted the name Lutalo as a symbol of his dedication to the struggle for civil rights and social justice.
Lutalo Masagazi (born 1975) is a Ugandan-born British actor and playwright who has starred in numerous stage productions and television shows. He is known for his powerful performances that often explore themes of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience.
Lutalo Bosa (born 1988) is a Ugandan footballer who has played for various clubs in Africa and Europe. He has also represented the Ugandan national team and is celebrated for his skillful play and dedication to the sport.
It is important to note that while the name Lutalo has its roots in the Luganda language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained recognition across various communities and ethnicities, particularly among those who value resilience, courage, and the pursuit of justice.
People
Lutalo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lutalo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lutalo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lutalo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lutalo 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Lutalo a common name?
We classify Lutalo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lutalo most popular?
The single biggest year for Lutalo was 1975, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lutalo is about 51 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 Lutalo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lutalo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lutalo 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 Lutalo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lutalo 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 Lutalo 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 Americans are named Lutalo?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Lutalo at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.