Nyere
A feminine name of West African origin, potentially meaning "water".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Nyere. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nyere today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyere births was 2019 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyere. 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 Nyere. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2019
6 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2019 SSA rank
#11,749
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Nyere: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyere 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 Nyere during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nyere
The name Nyere has its roots in the Kikuyu language spoken by the Kikuyu people of Kenya. It originated around the 15th century and is believed to be derived from the word "nyere," which means "to give" or "to bestow." This suggests that the name may have been given to children as a symbol of gratitude or as a gift.
In the Kikuyu culture, names hold significant meaning and are often chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or to express the parents' hopes and aspirations for their child's future. The name Nyere may have been used to convey the idea of generosity, kindness, or the act of giving blessings.
There are no known historical references to the name Nyere in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, some of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the oral traditions and genealogies of the Kikuyu people.
One of the notable individuals with the name Nyere was Nyere wa Hinga, a prominent Kikuyu chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his leadership and diplomacy in navigating the complex relationships between different Kikuyu clans and neighboring communities.
Another historical figure with the name Nyere was Nyere wa Kimemia, a respected elder and storyteller who lived in the early 19th century. He played a crucial role in preserving and passing down the rich cultural heritage and oral traditions of the Kikuyu people to younger generations.
In the 20th century, Nyere Kinuthia was a renowned Kikuyu scholar and author who contributed significantly to the study and documentation of the Kikuyu language and culture. He published several books and articles on Kikuyu literature, proverbs, and folklore.
Nyere Githiri, born in the late 19th century, was a skilled craftsman and basket weaver from the Kikuyu community. His intricate and beautifully woven baskets became highly sought after and were regarded as works of art.
In more recent times, Nyere Muthama, born in the 1950s, was a prominent Kenyan politician and member of parliament who advocated for the rights and representation of the Kikuyu people in the national political arena.
While the name Nyere is not as common today as it once was, it remains an important part of the Kikuyu cultural heritage and serves as a reminder of the values and traditions that have shaped the identity of this East African community.
People
Nyere + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyere 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
Nyere: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyere?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyere 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 Nyere a common name?
We classify Nyere 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 Nyere most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyere was 2019, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyere 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 Nyere in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nyere a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyere 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 Nyere still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nyere 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 Nyere 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 Nyere?
You can see how many people share the name Nyere on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.