Mmunga
A feminine name of African origin meaning "blessed child".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Mmunga. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mmunga today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mmunga births was 2023 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mmunga. 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 Mmunga. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2023
7 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,425
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Mmunga: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Mmunga 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 Mmunga 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 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Mmunga
The name Mmunga has its origins in the Bantu languages spoken across parts of Central and Southern Africa. It is believed to have originated among the Lunda people, an ethnic group found primarily in the modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Zambia. The name is thought to derive from the Proto-Bantu root "-munga," which means "to create" or "to shape."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mmunga can be found in the oral traditions and folklore of the Lunda people, where it was often given to skilled artisans and craftsmen who were celebrated for their ability to create beautiful and intricate works of art. This connection to the act of creation and shaping has led some scholars to suggest that the name may have initially held spiritual or religious significance within the Lunda culture.
Historical records from the 16th century mention a prominent Lunda chief named Mmunga, who was known for his leadership and diplomacy during a period of conflict and territorial disputes. This early example suggests that the name was not exclusively reserved for artisans but was also bestowed upon individuals of high social standing.
In the 19th century, a Lunda warrior and military leader named Mmunga Kasongo played a significant role in the resistance against Portuguese colonial expansion in Angola. His exploits and bravery in battle are still celebrated in Lunda oral traditions and folklore.
Another notable figure bearing the name Mmunga was a renowned Lunda sculptor and woodcarver who lived in the early 20th century. His intricate and highly regarded works have been preserved in various museum collections and are considered important examples of traditional Lunda art and craftsmanship.
Outside of the Lunda culture, the name Mmunga has also been recorded among other Bantu-speaking groups in the region, such as the Luba and Kongo peoples, though its usage and significance may have varied across these different cultural contexts.
While relatively uncommon outside of Central and Southern Africa, the name Mmunga has occasionally been adopted by individuals of African descent in other parts of the world, reflecting a desire to maintain cultural connections and honor their ancestral roots.
People
Mmunga + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mmunga 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
Mmunga: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mmunga?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mmunga 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 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Mmunga a common name?
We classify Mmunga as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mmunga most popular?
The single biggest year for Mmunga was 2023, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mmunga is about 3 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 Mmunga in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mmunga a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mmunga 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 Mmunga still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mmunga 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 Mmunga 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 common is the name Mmunga?
See how many people share the name Mmunga on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.