Masego
A given name of Setswana origin meaning "rainmaker" or "the one who wets".
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Masego. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Masego today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Masego births was 2022 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Masego. 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 Masego. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
2022
9 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#8,737
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Masego: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Masego 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 Masego during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14 | 0 | 14 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Masego
Masego is a name with origins in the Sotho-Tswana language group, which is spoken predominantly in Southern Africa. The name is derived from the Tswana word "masego," which means "blessings" or "grace." It is a unisex name that can be given to both boys and girls.
The Sotho-Tswana languages are part of the Bantu language family and are spoken by various ethnic groups in South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho. The name Masego has been in use among these communities for centuries, reflecting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Masego can be traced back to the late 19th century. In 1890, a South African woman named Masego Montshiwa was born in the village of Kanye, in what is now Botswana. She later became a prominent figure in the local community and played a role in preserving traditional Tswana culture and customs.
Another notable individual with the name Masego is Masego Maurice Samuel Maponyane, a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician. Born in 1923, he was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and served as a member of the Transvaal Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 1999.
In the field of music, Masego Micheal Mugwanya, better known by his stage name Masego, is a contemporary American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in 1993, he is known for his unique blend of genres, including jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul.
Masego Tsholofelo Makhele is a South African actress and television presenter. Born in 1989, she has appeared in several television series and films, including the popular South African soap opera "Generations."
Another notable figure with the name Masego is Masego David Tshelane, a South African professional soccer player. Born in 1991, he has played for various clubs in South Africa and abroad, including Kaizer Chiefs and Supersport United.
While the name Masego has its roots in Southern Africa, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world as well, particularly among individuals of African descent. The name's meaning of "blessings" or "grace" has resonated with many parents, making it a popular choice for their children.
People
Masego + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Masego 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
Masego: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Masego?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Masego 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Masego a common name?
We classify Masego as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Masego most popular?
The single biggest year for Masego was 2022, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Masego is about 4 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 Masego in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Masego a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Masego 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 Masego still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Masego 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 Masego 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 have Masego as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.