Ungwa
A Hausa name meaning a village or rural settlement.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Ungwa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ungwa today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ungwa births was 2023 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ungwa. 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 Ungwa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2023
5 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2024 SSA rank
#17,450
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Ungwa: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ungwa 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 Ungwa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 10 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ungwa
The name Ungwa originates from the Hausa language, which is spoken predominantly in northern Nigeria and parts of Niger. The Hausa people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, with a rich cultural heritage that dates back several centuries.
Ungwa is a compound word derived from the Hausa words "un" meaning "child" and "gwa" meaning "born." Historically, it was a name given to children born in a particular area or village, often referring to the place of their birth or the community they belonged to.
While the name Ungwa does not appear to be explicitly mentioned in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the traditional naming practices of the Hausa people, who placed great importance on names and their meanings.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ungwa can be found in the writings of early European explorers and travelers who documented their encounters with the Hausa people in the region. These accounts provide valuable insights into the cultural significance of names and their connection to identity and belonging.
Throughout history, there have been a number of notable individuals who bore the name Ungwa. One such figure was Ungwa Abubakar, a prominent Hausa scholar and teacher who lived in the 18th century. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to the education system in the Hausa lands.
Another famous bearer of the name was Ungwa Bello, a skilled warrior and military leader from the early 19th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Sokoto Caliphate, a powerful Islamic empire that ruled over a significant portion of present-day northern Nigeria and parts of neighboring countries.
In the 20th century, Ungwa Garba emerged as a respected politician and advocate for the rights of the Hausa people. He served as a member of the Nigerian parliament and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of his community on a national level.
Ungwa Aliyu, born in the late 19th century, was a renowned poet and storyteller who helped preserve and pass down the rich oral traditions of the Hausa culture. His works were widely celebrated and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and artists alike.
Finally, Ungwa Yakubu, a contemporary artist and sculptor, has gained international recognition for his intricate and culturally significant works of art. His pieces often reflect the diverse influences and narratives of the Hausa people, showcasing their enduring artistic legacy.
People
Ungwa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ungwa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ungwa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ungwa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ungwa 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 Ungwa a common name?
We classify Ungwa 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, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ungwa most popular?
The single biggest year for Ungwa was 2023, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ungwa is about 3 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 Ungwa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ungwa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ungwa 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 Ungwa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ungwa 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 Ungwa 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 Ungwa?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.