Vanbawi
A masculine name of Mizo origin meaning "Child Of The Forest".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Vanbawi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vanbawi today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vanbawi births was 2017 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vanbawi. 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 Vanbawi. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2017
5 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2017 SSA rank
#14,118
Tracked since 2017
Popularity
Vanbawi: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Vanbawi 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 Vanbawi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Vanbawi
The name Vanbawi is believed to have originated from the Mizo language, spoken primarily in the Indian state of Mizoram and parts of Myanmar. It is derived from the words "van," meaning "to go" or "to move," and "bawi," which means "woman" or "female." This suggests that the name might have been used to refer to a woman who traveled or moved around frequently.
Mizoram, a hilly region in northeastern India, has a rich cultural heritage and a long history of oral traditions. The Mizo people have their own folklore and legends, which could potentially contain references to the name Vanbawi. However, due to the limited availability of historical records, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin or earliest mentions of this name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Vanbawi was Vanbawi Lalmalsawmi, a renowned Mizo writer and social activist born in 1922. She played a significant role in promoting education and empowering women in Mizoram. Her literary works, which often focused on social issues and the struggles of the Mizo people, were instrumental in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Another notable figure with the name Vanbawi was Vanbawi Zairemmawii, a Mizo politician and social worker born in 1945. She served as a member of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly and was actively involved in various community development initiatives, particularly in the areas of education and women's empowerment.
In the field of sports, Vanbawi Ralte, a former Indian footballer born in 1986, made a name for himself. He represented India at the international level and played for several prominent clubs in the country, including East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
Vanbawi Kapliana, born in 1975, is a renowned Mizo singer and musician. Her soulful voice and compositions have garnered a strong following, and she has contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of traditional Mizo music.
Lastly, Vanbawi Thangvunga, born in 1960, is a prominent figure in the field of education in Mizoram. She has served as a teacher and administrator for several decades, playing a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of the state and inspiring countless students.
While the name Vanbawi may not be as widely known outside of the Mizo community, it holds deep cultural significance and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields, from literature and politics to sports and education.
People
Vanbawi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vanbawi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vanbawi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vanbawi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vanbawi 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 Vanbawi a common name?
We classify Vanbawi 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 Vanbawi most popular?
The single biggest year for Vanbawi was 2017, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vanbawi is about 9 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 Vanbawi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vanbawi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vanbawi 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 Vanbawi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vanbawi 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 Vanbawi 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 have Vanbawi as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.