Meba
An invented name of uncertain meaning and origin.
Name Census estimates that about 156 living Americans carry the first name Meba. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 86.0% of registrations being male. The average person named Meba today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Meba births was 2018 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Meba. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Meba with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
156
~ 1 in 2,197,143 Americans
Peak year
2018
21 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,796
Tracked since 2013
Gender
Gender distribution for Meba
Meba leans heavily male at 86.0% of total registrations, but 22 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Meba as a male name
- Ranked #5,796 in 2024
- 16 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (16 births)
Meba as a female name
- Ranked #16,774 in 2023
- 5 female births in 2023
- Peak: 2015 (9 births)
Popularity
Meba: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Meba from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 85 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meba 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 Meba during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Meba
The name Meba originates from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have its roots in the ancient Nri Kingdom, which dates back to the 9th century AD. The name Meba is derived from the Igbo word "mba," meaning "town" or "community."
Historically, the name Meba was often given to children born in times of prosperity or during periods of peace within their communities. It symbolized the idea of belonging to a collective and being part of a thriving society. In some regions, the name was also associated with qualities like unity, harmony, and cooperation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meba can be found in the oral traditions and folktales of the Igbo people. These stories, passed down from generation to generation, often featured characters with names like Meba, reflecting the cultural significance of the name.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Meba. One such figure was Meba Nweze (c. 1820-1890), a prominent Igbo chief and leader during the 19th century. He was known for his diplomacy and efforts to maintain peace between different communities in present-day Anambra State, Nigeria.
Another historical figure was Meba Nwafor (c. 1875-1945), a renowned trader and entrepreneur from Onitsha, Nigeria. He played a crucial role in establishing trade routes and fostering economic growth in the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of literature, Meba Ofuobi (1925-2001) was a celebrated Igbo poet and writer. Her works often explored themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of life in modern Nigeria. She was awarded the prestigious Nigerian National Order of Merit in 1979 for her contributions to the literary arts.
Another notable figure was Meba Nzekwu (1920-2017), a Nigerian novelist and playwright. His works, such as the novel "Ezi Nwanyi" (The Bride Price), explored various aspects of Igbo culture and society. He was also a respected educator and served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Lastly, Meba Akpunonu (1930-2005) was a prominent Nigerian politician and activist. She was actively involved in the struggle for women's rights and gender equality, serving as the president of the National Council of Women's Societies in Nigeria from 1976 to 1983.
These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the name Meba throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and leaving a lasting impact on their communities and society.
People
Meba + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Meba 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
Meba: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Meba?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 156 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Meba 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 2,197,143 US residents.
Is Meba a common name?
We classify Meba as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 157 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Meba most popular?
The single biggest year for Meba was 2018, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Meba is about 7 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 Meba in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Meba a male name?
Yes, 86.0% of people registered as Meba 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 Meba still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Meba 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 Meba 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 are called Meba?
You can see how many Americans are named Meba on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.