NameCensus.
Very Rare

Montsho

An African name of Tswana origin meaning "brown" or "black".

Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Montsho. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Montsho today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Montsho births was 1974 (6 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Montsho. 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 Montsho. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

6

~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans

Peak year

1974

6 babies that year

Average age

48

years old

1974 SSA rank

#5,047

Tracked since 1974

Popularity

Montsho: popularity over time

Babies born per year

02356

Decades

Montsho 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 Montsho during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1970s606

Origin

Meaning and history of Montsho

The name Montsho has its origins in the Setswana language, spoken primarily in Botswana, South Africa, and surrounding regions. It is derived from the Setswana word "montšho," which means "black" or "dark-colored." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with a darker complexion or perhaps someone born at night.

In the historical context, the Setswana language can be traced back to the Bantu language family, which originated in West and Central Africa several millennia ago. The Batswana people, who speak Setswana, have a rich cultural heritage that spans centuries, with oral traditions and folklore that may have included references to names like Montsho.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Montsho dates back to the late 19th century. A prominent figure bearing this name was Montsho Motlogelwa, a Batswana warrior and leader who lived from around 1840 to 1910. He played a significant role in defending his people against the encroachment of European colonizers during the Scramble for Africa.

Another notable individual with the name Montsho was Montsho Mosojane, a Botswana politician who served as a member of the National Assembly from 1969 to 1989. He was born in 1920 and played a crucial role in the early years of Botswana's independence, working towards the development and progress of the nation.

In the realm of literature, Montsho Tshekedi was a celebrated Botswana author and poet who lived from 1935 to 2018. Her works, written in Setswana, explored themes of culture, identity, and the experiences of women in Botswana society. She was widely recognized for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Setswana language and literature.

Another figure of historical significance was Montsho Motlhagodi, a Batswana chief who ruled in the late 19th century. He was known for his diplomatic skills and for navigating the challenges posed by European colonization while maintaining the sovereignty and cultural integrity of his people.

Lastly, Montsho Mokuena was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist who lived from 1920 to 2005. As a member of the African National Congress, he played a significant role in the struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime, advocating for racial equality and human rights in South Africa.

The name Montsho has a rich history rooted in the Setswana language and culture, with notable individuals who have carried this name leaving their mark across various fields, from politics and leadership to literature and activism.

People

Montsho + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Montsho 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

Montsho: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Montsho?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Montsho 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 57,125,723 US residents.

Is Montsho a common name?

We classify Montsho as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Montsho most popular?

The single biggest year for Montsho was 1974, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Montsho is about 48 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 Montsho in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Montsho a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Montsho 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 Montsho still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Montsho 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 Montsho 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 Americans are named Montsho?

For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.

N
Name Census
namecensus.com

There are 6 people

with the first name

Montsho

Look up any American name

Share this result