Mahamadou
A masculine Arabic name meaning "praiseworthy" or "highly praised".
Name Census estimates that about 386 living Americans carry the first name Mahamadou. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mahamadou today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mahamadou births was 2008 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mahamadou. 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.
People living today
386
~ 1 in 887,965 Americans
Peak year
2008
24 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,519
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Mahamadou: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mahamadou from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 167 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahamadou 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 Mahamadou during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mahamadous live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mahamadou
The given name Mahamadou has its origins in the Fula language, which is spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in countries like Senegal, Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria. The name is derived from the Arabic name Muhammad, which means "praised" or "praiseworthy." It is a common name among the Fula people, who are known for their rich cultural heritage and Islamic roots.
The earliest recorded use of the name Mahamadou can be traced back to the 13th century, when the Fula people began to adopt Islam and incorporate Arabic names into their culture. The name gained popularity among the Fula community due to its religious significance and association with the Prophet Muhammad.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Mahamadou was Mahamadou Lamine Dramé, a renowned Fula scholar and religious leader from Senegal, who lived in the 19th century. He played a pivotal role in spreading Islamic education and promoting the Fula language and culture.
Another notable figure with the name Mahamadou was Mahamadou Issoufou, a prominent Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 2011 to 2021. He was born in 1952 and was widely respected for his efforts in promoting democracy and economic development in his country.
In the realm of literature, Mahamadou Aliou Sow, a Senegalese writer and poet, made significant contributions to the Fula literary canon. He was born in 1940 and his works explored themes of identity, tradition, and modernity within the Fula community.
Mahamadou Niang, a Senegalese football player born in 1980, achieved international fame for his skills on the field. He played for several European clubs, including Marseille and Fenerbahçe, and represented Senegal in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Mahamadou Diarra, a Malian football player born in 1981, also made a name for himself in the world of sports. He played for several prestigious clubs, including Real Madrid and Monaco, and was a key member of the Malian national team.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Mahamadou throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and cultural significance within various African communities.
People
Mahamadou + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mahamadou as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mahamadou: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mahamadou?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 386 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mahamadou 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 887,965 US residents.
Is Mahamadou a common name?
We classify Mahamadou as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 391 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mahamadou most popular?
The single biggest year for Mahamadou was 2008, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mahamadou is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mahamadou a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mahamadou 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.
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.