Tshaka
Of South African origin, meaning "to keep it together".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Tshaka. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tshaka today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tshaka births was 1971 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tshaka. 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 Tshaka. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1971
6 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1975 SSA rank
#5,425
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Tshaka: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tshaka 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 Tshaka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tshaka
The name Tshaka has its origins in the Nguni languages of southern Africa, particularly isiXhosa and isiZulu. It is derived from the word "tshaka," which means "to be angry" or "to be fierce" in these languages. The name can be traced back to the late 18th century and the rise of the Zulu Kingdom under the infamous ruler Shaka Zulu.
Shaka Zulu, also known as Shaka kaSenzangakhona, was born around 1787 and ruled the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 until his assassination in 1828. He is credited with transforming the Zulu tribe into a formidable military force and laying the foundations for the Zulu Empire. The name Tshaka gained widespread recognition and significance due to his reputation as a fierce warrior and skilled military strategist.
Beyond Shaka Zulu himself, there are several other notable historical figures who bore the name Tshaka. One such figure was Tshaka Tshivhilidze, a revered chief and leader of the Venda people in the northern part of South Africa during the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in protecting his people from external threats and preserving their cultural traditions.
In the 20th century, Tshaka Mayise was a prominent South African artist and sculptor. Born in 1936, he is renowned for his intricate wood carvings that depicted scenes from daily life and traditional Xhosa culture. His works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums around the world, and he is considered one of the most influential artists of his time.
Another notable figure with the name Tshaka is Tshaka Ngomane, a South African politician and activist. Born in 1964, he played a significant role in the anti-apartheid movement and was a member of the African National Congress (ANC). After the end of apartheid, he served as a Member of Parliament and held various leadership positions within the ANC.
It is worth noting that while the name Tshaka is predominantly associated with the Nguni cultures of southern Africa, it has also been adopted by individuals from other cultural backgrounds, particularly in regions with historical ties to the Zulu Kingdom or where Nguni languages are spoken. The name continues to hold significance as a symbol of strength, courage, and resilience.
People
Tshaka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tshaka 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
Tshaka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tshaka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tshaka 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Tshaka a common name?
We classify Tshaka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tshaka most popular?
The single biggest year for Tshaka was 1971, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tshaka is about 53 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 Tshaka in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tshaka a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tshaka 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 Tshaka still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tshaka 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 Tshaka 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 Americans are named Tshaka?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.