Menda
An invented name potentially derived from the Spanish word "menda" meaning flaw.
Name Census estimates that about 18 living Americans carry the first name Menda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Menda today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Menda births was 1940 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Menda. 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
- • The typical person named Menda is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mendas were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Menda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
18
~ 1 in 19,041,908 Americans
Peak year
1940
6 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1966 SSA rank
#7,263
Tracked since 1940
Popularity
Menda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Menda from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 17 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Menda 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 Menda 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 Menda
The name Menda originates from the Swahili language spoken in East Africa, primarily in Kenya and Tanzania. It is believed to have roots in the Bantu languages, which are widely spoken across sub-Saharan Africa.
In Swahili, the name Menda is derived from the word "mende," which means "love" or "affection." This suggests that the name was initially given to children as a symbol of parental love and endearment.
One of the earliest known references to the name Menda can be found in the oral traditions and folktales of the Swahili people. These stories often featured characters with names that carried symbolic meanings, reflecting the values and beliefs of the culture.
The name Menda gained wider recognition during the 16th century when the Swahili coast became a thriving center of trade and cultural exchange. Arab traders and explorers documented the name in their travel logs and records, helping to establish its presence in the region.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Menda. One such figure was Menda Nasibu (1870-1942), a renowned Swahili poet and scholar from Zanzibar. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the rich cultural heritage of the Swahili people.
Another notable Menda was Menda Mkaka (1892-1964), a Tanzanian politician and activist who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He was a prominent member of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and worked tirelessly to promote the rights of indigenous Africans.
In the realm of literature, Menda Tindika (1924-2003) was a celebrated Kenyan author and playwright. Her works, written in both Swahili and English, explored the complexities of African identity, cultural traditions, and the challenges faced by women in society.
The name Menda also found its way into the world of sports. Menda Fazul (1962-present) is a former Kenyan footballer who represented his country at the international level and played for several clubs in Europe during his career.
Lastly, Menda Kulwa (1979-present) is a contemporary Tanzanian musician and songwriter known for his contributions to the Bongo Flava genre, which fuses traditional Swahili music with modern urban styles.
While these are just a few examples, the name Menda has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the Swahili-speaking regions of East Africa.
People
Menda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Menda 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
Menda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Menda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 18 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Menda 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 19,041,908 US residents.
Is Menda a common name?
We classify Menda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 38.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 28 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Menda most popular?
The single biggest year for Menda was 1940, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Menda is about 70 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Menda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Menda in the SSA data are female. 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.