Quwana
An African name meaning "watcher" or "guardian".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Quwana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Quwana today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Quwana births was 1982 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Quwana. 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 Quwana. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1982
6 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1982 SSA rank
#10,121
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Quwana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Quwana from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Quwana 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 Quwana 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 Quwana
The name Quwana is believed to have its origins in the Quechua language, spoken by the indigenous peoples of the Andes region in South America. Quechua is a language family that was widespread during the time of the Inca Empire, which spanned parts of modern-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile.
The name Quwana is thought to be derived from the Quechua word "quna," which means "to give." It is possible that the name was originally given to individuals who were known for their generosity or charitable nature. Alternatively, it may have been a name bestowed upon children who were considered a gift or blessing.
While there are no definitive historical records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is likely that the name has been in use for centuries among the indigenous communities of the Andes region. Unfortunately, due to the limited documentation of indigenous cultures during the colonial era, many details about the name's origin and early usage have been lost.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Quwana was a Quechua woman who lived in the 16th century during the Spanish conquest of Peru. She was known for her resistance against the Spanish colonizers and her efforts to preserve the traditions and culture of her people.
In the 19th century, there was a notable Quechua leader and activist named Quwana Tupac Amaru, who fought against the oppressive policies of the Peruvian government and advocated for the rights of indigenous communities.
Another significant figure was Quwana Calchaqui, a powerful cacique (chief) of the Calchaquí people in present-day northwestern Argentina. She led her people in a fierce resistance against the Spanish conquistadors in the early 17th century.
In the realm of literature, Quwana Yupanqui was a renowned Quechua poet and author from the 18th century. Her works explored the cultural traditions and oral histories of the Andes region.
More recently, Quwana Ccara was a Peruvian artist and ceramist in the 20th century, known for her vibrant and intricate pottery designs inspired by Andean motifs and symbols.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Quwana, highlighting its deep roots in the indigenous cultures of the Andes region and its association with resilience, creativity, and a connection to ancestral traditions.
People
Quwana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Quwana 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
Quwana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Quwana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Quwana 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Quwana a common name?
We classify Quwana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Quwana most popular?
The single biggest year for Quwana was 1982, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Quwana is about 46 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 Quwana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Quwana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Quwana 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 Quwana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Quwana 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 Quwana 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 share the name Quwana?
Want to know how many people share the name Quwana? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.