Nhyira
A feminine name of Akan (Ghanaian) origin meaning grace, blessing, or mercy.
Name Census estimates that about 113 living Americans carry the first name Nhyira. It is a predominantly female name (95.6% of registrations). The average person named Nhyira today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nhyira births was 2023 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nhyira. 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 Nhyira with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
113
~ 1 in 3,033,224 Americans
Peak year
2023
14 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2019 SSA rank
#9,355
Tracked since 2011
Gender
Gender distribution for Nhyira
Nhyira leans heavily female at 95.6% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Nhyira as a male name
- Ranked #13,541 in 2019
- 5 male births in 2019
- Peak: 2019 (5 births)
Nhyira as a female name
- Ranked #9,355 in 2024
- 11 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (14 births)
Popularity
Nhyira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nhyira 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 76 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nhyira remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nhyira 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 Nhyira 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 Nhyira
Nhyira is a given name of Akan origin, originating from the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The name dates back several centuries and is rooted in the Akan language, which is spoken by the Ashanti and Fante ethnic groups.
The name Nhyira is derived from the Akan word "nhyira," which means "blessing" or "grace." It is a name that signifies good fortune, prosperity, and divine favor. The name was likely given to children in the hopes that they would live a blessed and prosperous life.
In the historical records of the Akan people, the name Nhyira can be found in various oral traditions, folktales, and proverbs. It is a name that has been revered and cherished for generations, reflecting the cultural values and beliefs of the Akan people.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nhyira can be found in the 18th century, when it was mentioned in the writings of British missionaries and traders who interacted with the Akan people. However, the name's origins likely predate these records by several centuries.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Nhyira. One such person was Nhyira Akyaawa (c. 1700-1780), a renowned Ashanti queen mother who played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the Ashanti Kingdom during the 18th century.
Another notable figure was Nhyira Ntsiful (1825-1890), a respected Akan chief and diplomat who was instrumental in maintaining peace and fostering trade relations between the Akan people and European powers during the late 19th century.
In more modern times, Nhyira Ofori (1912-1998) was a Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist who fought for the empowerment of women and girls in her country. Her efforts paved the way for greater educational opportunities and social reforms.
Nhyira Lerebours (1938-2015) was a prominent Ghanaian-American artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people and explored themes of identity, spirituality, and the African diaspora.
Lastly, Nhyira Addo (born 1985) is a contemporary Ghanaian writer and journalist whose works have shed light on the experiences of modern Ghanaian women and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing society.
People
Nhyira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nhyira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nhyira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nhyira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 113 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nhyira 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 3,033,224 US residents.
Is Nhyira a common name?
We classify Nhyira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 114 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nhyira most popular?
The single biggest year for Nhyira was 2023, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nhyira is about 8 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 Nhyira in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nhyira a female name?
Yes, 95.6% of people registered as Nhyira 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.
Is Nhyira still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nhyira 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 Nhyira 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 the name Nhyira?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Nhyira on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.