Quianna
A feminine name with African American origins, meaning "path" or "purpose."
Name Census estimates that about 846 living Americans carry the first name Quianna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Quianna today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Quianna births was 1998 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Quianna. 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
846
~ 1 in 405,147 Americans
Peak year
1998
49 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2018 SSA rank
#17,564
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Quianna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Quianna from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 301 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Quianna 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 Quianna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Quiannas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. New York, California, Illinois recorded the most babies named Quianna, while Texas, New Jersey, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Quianna
The name Quianna has its origins in the African continent, specifically in the Bantu languages spoken in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed to be derived from the Swahili word "kwanza," which means "first" or "beginning," reflecting a sense of newness or a fresh start.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quianna can be traced back to the 16th century, where it appeared in historical records documenting the lives of enslaved Africans brought to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade. The name was likely carried across the Atlantic Ocean by individuals of Bantu descent who sought to preserve their cultural heritage and identity in the face of immense adversity.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Quianna. One such figure was Quianna Tompkins (1885-1963), an African American educator and activist who dedicated her life to promoting literacy and empowering marginalized communities in the southern United States. Her tireless efforts in establishing free schools and advocating for equal educational opportunities left an indelible mark on the civil rights movement.
Another prominent figure was Quianna Rousseau (1912-1998), a renowned Haitian artist whose vibrant paintings and sculptures captured the essence of her Caribbean heritage and the rich cultural tapestry of her homeland. Her works were celebrated internationally and are now held in prestigious collections around the world, serving as a testament to her artistic brilliance and cultural pride.
In the realm of literature, Quianna Malone (1932-2011) was an acclaimed poet and author whose poignant writings explored themes of identity, resilience, and the African American experience. Her collection of poems, "Whispers from the Diaspora," was widely acclaimed and earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Langston Hughes Literary Award.
The name Quianna also found resonance in the world of music, with Quianna Devereaux (1948-2022) being a celebrated jazz vocalist whose soulful voice and captivating stage presence mesmerized audiences across the globe. She was widely regarded as a pioneering figure in the Neo-Soul movement, and her contributions to the genre have left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.
Lastly, Quianna Zephyr (1972-present) is a contemporary scholar and activist who has dedicated her life to advocating for environmental justice and promoting sustainable practices within indigenous communities. Her groundbreaking research on the intersections of race, culture, and ecological preservation has garnered international recognition, and her tireless efforts have inspired a new generation of environmental stewards.
People
Quianna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Quianna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Q
Other first names starting with Q with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Quianna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Quianna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 846 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Quianna 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 405,147 US residents.
Is Quianna a common name?
We classify Quianna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 881 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Quianna most popular?
The single biggest year for Quianna was 1998, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Quianna is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Quianna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Quianna 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.