Oumou
A feminine West African name meaning "born on a Friday".
Name Census estimates that about 716 living Americans carry the first name Oumou. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Oumou today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Oumou births was 2013 (43 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Oumou. 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.
People living today
716
~ 1 in 478,707 Americans
Peak year
2013
43 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,343
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Oumou: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Oumou from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 309 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Oumou remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oumou 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 Oumou during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Oumous live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Oumou, while Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 122 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Oumou
The name Oumou is of West African origin, specifically from the Bambara language spoken in Mali. It is derived from the word "oumou" which means "one who endures" or "one who perseveres." The name is believed to have been in use since medieval times among the Bambara people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Mali.
Oumou is a name that carries a significant cultural and historical significance in the region. It is often associated with strength, resilience, and perseverance, qualities that were highly valued in the harsh environmental conditions of the Sahel region. The name was commonly given to girls who were born during times of hardship or adversity, as a way of bestowing upon them the strength and determination to endure and overcome challenges.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Oumou can be found in the epic poem "The Sundiata Epic," which dates back to the 13th century. This epic poem tells the story of Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire, and features a character named Oumou Camara, who was a prominent figure in the narrative.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Oumou. One of the most renowned is Oumou Sangaré (born in 1968), a celebrated Malian singer and songwriter who has been hailed as the "Songbird of Wassoulou." Her music often addresses social and political issues, and she has been recognized for her efforts in promoting women's rights and empowerment.
Another prominent figure is Oumou Bah (born in 1987), a Guinean woman who gained international recognition for her courageous actions during the 2009 Conakry massacre in Guinea. Despite being brutally attacked and raped, she became a powerful voice for the victims and played a crucial role in seeking justice and accountability.
In the literary world, Oumou Diarra (1933-1978) was a pioneering Malian author and poet who wrote extensively about the struggles and experiences of women in West Africa. Her works, such as "La Violeté de Samarcande," are considered important contributions to Francophone African literature.
Oumou Sow Huchard (born in 1945) is a French politician and human rights activist of Malian descent who has been a prominent voice for immigrant rights and social justice in France. She served as a member of the European Parliament and has been recognized for her advocacy work.
Oumou Sidibé (born in 1949) is a Malian visual artist and sculptor known for her intricate textile works that celebrate the cultural traditions and heritage of her homeland. Her art has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world.
People
Oumou + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Oumou as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Oumou: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Oumou?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 716 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Oumou 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 478,707 US residents.
Is Oumou a common name?
We classify Oumou as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 724 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Oumou most popular?
The single biggest year for Oumou was 2013, when 43 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Oumou is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Oumou a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Oumou 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.