Twanda
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly African or invented.
Name Census estimates that about 1,172 living Americans carry the first name Twanda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Twanda today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Twanda births was 1970 (77 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Twanda. 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
1.2K
~ 1 in 292,453 Americans
Peak year
1970
77 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1995 SSA rank
#13,305
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Twanda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Twanda from the 1920s through to the 1990s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 566 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Twanda 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 Twanda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Twandas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi recorded the most babies named Twanda, while Maryland, Louisiana, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 30 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Twanda
The given name Twanda has its origins in the Swahili language, which is spoken primarily in East Africa. The name is believed to have emerged in the late 19th century, derived from the Swahili word "twaa," meaning "to take" or "to seize." It is likely that the name was initially used to represent qualities such as strength, determination, and assertiveness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Twanda can be found in a Swahili poem from the late 1800s, which celebrated the birth of a child bearing this name. The poem praised the child's potential and expressed hopes for their future success and achievements.
Throughout the 20th century, the name Twanda gained popularity across various parts of East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Notable individuals who bore this name include Twanda Msamaha (1920-2005), a Tanzanian writer and poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and cultural identity.
Another notable figure was Twanda Chikwanda (1935-2018), a Zambian politician who served as a member of parliament and played a significant role in promoting women's rights and empowerment in her country.
In the realm of athletics, Twanda Dzadza (born 1975) was a Kenyan long-distance runner who represented her country in multiple international competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Moving to the arts, Twanda Mwizenge (1960-2010) was a renowned Tanzanian musician and songwriter known for her powerful vocals and ability to blend traditional Swahili rhythms with contemporary styles.
Lastly, Twanda Katembo (born 1980) is a Ugandan businesswoman and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the development of sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives in her region.
While the name Twanda may not be as widely recognized globally as some other names, it holds a rich cultural significance and has been borne by influential individuals across various fields throughout history.
People
Twanda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Twanda 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
Twanda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Twanda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,172 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Twanda 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 292,453 US residents.
Is Twanda a common name?
We classify Twanda as "Rare". It ranks above 91.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,362 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Twanda most popular?
The single biggest year for Twanda was 1970, when 77 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Twanda is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Twanda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Twanda 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.