Temani
A feminine name of African origin meaning "beloved" or "gentle".
Name Census estimates that about 20 living Americans carry the first name Temani. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 50.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Temani today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Temani births was 1998 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Temani. 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 Temani. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
20
~ 1 in 17,137,717 Americans
Peak year
1998
5 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2010 SSA rank
#14,035
Tracked since 1998
Gender
Gender distribution for Temani
Temani is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 20 total registrations, 10 (50.0%) were male and 10 (50.0%) were female.
Temani as a male name
- Ranked #14,035 in 2010
- 5 male births in 2010
- Peak: 2008 (5 births)
Temani as a female name
- Ranked #16,703 in 1999
- 5 female births in 1999
- Peak: 1998 (5 births)
Popularity
Temani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Temani from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Temani remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Temani 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 Temani 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 Temani
The name Temani is believed to have its origins in the Igbo language spoken in southern Nigeria. The word "temi" in Igbo means "my own" or "my precious one," while "ani" means "land" or "earth." Therefore, Temani can be interpreted as "my precious land" or "my own earth."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Temani can be traced back to the 16th century in parts of what is now known as Igboland, a region spanning several states in southeastern Nigeria. During this period, the name was commonly given to children born in times of peace and prosperity, symbolizing the parents' gratitude for their land and their connection to it.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Temani was a prominent Igbo trader and diplomat who lived in the late 17th century. Known as Temani Okonkwo, he played a crucial role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Igbo people and neighboring communities.
In the 19th century, a notable figure named Temani Ogbuefi emerged as a respected leader and peacemaker among the Igbo people. He was renowned for his wisdom and ability to resolve conflicts through diplomacy and negotiation.
Another historical figure bearing the name Temani was a renowned Igbo artist and sculptor who lived in the early 20th century. Temani Nwoke's intricate wood carvings and masks were celebrated for their beauty and cultural significance, and his works can be found in various museums and collections around the world.
In more recent times, Temani Obaze, a Nigerian-American politician and lawyer, gained prominence for his efforts in promoting good governance and democracy in Nigeria. Born in 1955, he served as the Secretary to the State Government of Anambra, Nigeria, and was a vocal advocate for transparency and accountability in public service.
It is worth noting that while the name Temani has its roots in the Igbo culture, it has also been adopted and used across other parts of Nigeria and beyond, transcending its original linguistic and cultural boundaries.
People
Temani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Temani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Temani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Temani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 20 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Temani 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 17,137,717 US residents.
Is Temani a common name?
We classify Temani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Temani most popular?
The single biggest year for Temani was 1998, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Temani 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 Temani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Temani a female name?
Yes, 50.0% of people registered as Temani 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 Temani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Temani 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 Temani 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 Temani?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.