Mamadou
A masculine Arabic name meaning "giving praise to God" or "praiseworthy".
Name Census estimates that about 1,810 living Americans carry the first name Mamadou. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mamadou today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mamadou births was 2024 (105 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mamadou. 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
- • Mamadou is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.8K
~ 1 in 189,367 Americans
Peak year
2024
105 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,623
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Mamadou: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mamadou 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 654 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Mamadou remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mamadou 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 Mamadou during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mamadous live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. New York, Ohio, Georgia recorded the most babies named Mamadou, while Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 196 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mamadou
The name Mamadou originates from the Mandinka language spoken by the Mandinka people of West Africa, primarily in the modern-day countries of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali. It is believed to have roots dating back to the 13th century during the Mali Empire, one of the largest and most influential empires in West African history.
Mamadou is a combination of the Arabic name Muhammad and the Mandinka honorific "dou," which is added as a sign of respect and reverence. This naming convention reflects the strong influence of Islam in the region, as the name Muhammad holds great significance in the Islamic faith.
In the 14th century, the famous Malian emperor Mansa Musa, who ruled from 1312 to 1337, is said to have had a son named Mamadou. This early recorded instance of the name highlights its historical roots and association with royal lineage in the region.
Throughout the centuries, the name Mamadou has been borne by various notable figures in West African history. One such individual was Mamadou Lamine Drame, a renowned Senegalese writer, poet, and journalist who lived from 1886 to 1960. His works played a pivotal role in promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of his people.
Another prominent figure was Mamadou Dia, a Senegalese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Senegal after the country gained independence from France in 1960. His political legacy and contributions to the nation's development remain significant.
In the realm of sports, Mamadou Niang, a Senegalese basketball player born in 1986, achieved international recognition for his exceptional skills on the court, representing his country in various international competitions.
The name Mamadou also holds religious significance, as it is associated with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In some West African communities, it is a common practice to name male children after religious figures or prophets as a sign of devotion and respect.
Despite its origins in West Africa, the name Mamadou has spread to other parts of the world, particularly among communities with ties to the region or those influenced by its cultural and religious traditions. Its enduring presence throughout history serves as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of West Africa and the importance of preserving and honoring one's heritage through naming practices.
People
Mamadou + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mamadou 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
Mamadou: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mamadou?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,810 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mamadou 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 189,367 US residents.
Is Mamadou a common name?
We classify Mamadou as "Rare". It ranks above 93.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,830 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mamadou most popular?
The single biggest year for Mamadou was 2024, when 105 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mamadou is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mamadou a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mamadou 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.