Simbarashe
A masculine name of Shona origin meaning "the Lord is powerful".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Simbarashe. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Simbarashe today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Simbarashe births was 2004 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Simbarashe. 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 Simbarashe with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Simbarashe. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2004
5 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2004 SSA rank
#12,952
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Simbarashe: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Simbarashe 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 Simbarashe during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Simbarashe
The name Simbarashe originates from the Shona language spoken by the Bantu ethnic group residing in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. It dates back to the 16th century during the establishment of the Rozwi Empire in present-day Zimbabwe.
Simbarashe is a compound word derived from the Shona terms "shumba" meaning lion and "rashe" meaning to remain or endure. The name carries the connotation of strength, resilience, and perseverance, likening the bearer to the formidable lion.
Historical references to the name Simbarashe can be traced back to oral traditions and folklore passed down through generations within the Shona culture. It was a name bestowed upon warriors, hunters, and leaders who exhibited bravery and unwavering determination in the face of adversity.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Simbarashe can be found in the chronicles of the Rozwi Empire, where it was attributed to a revered chief known for his fearlessness in battle and his ability to unite his people against invading forces.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Simbarashe. Some examples include:
1. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (1945-2021), a Zimbabwean politician who served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
2. Simbarashe Muvuri (1960-2012), a Zimbabwean cricketer who played for the national team in the 1980s and 1990s.
3. Simbarashe Mujeye (born 1981), a Zimbabwean footballer who played as a defender for various clubs in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
4. Simbarashe Jena (born 1968), a Zimbabwean sculptor and artist known for his intricate stone carvings depicting African themes.
5. Simbarashe Mambo (born 1989), a Zimbabwean rugby union player who has represented his country in international competitions.
The name Simbarashe has endured through the centuries, carrying the cultural and historical significance of the Shona people. Its meaning and symbolism continue to resonate within the Zimbabwean society, serving as a reminder of the valor and resilience of their ancestors.
People
Simbarashe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Simbarashe as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Simbarashe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Simbarashe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Simbarashe 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Simbarashe a common name?
We classify Simbarashe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Simbarashe most popular?
The single biggest year for Simbarashe was 2004, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Simbarashe is about 22 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 Simbarashe in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Simbarashe a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Simbarashe 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 Simbarashe still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Simbarashe 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 Simbarashe 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 Simbarashe?
See how many Americans are named Simbarashe on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.