Zoumana
A masculine Malian given name likely meaning "young warrior" in Bambara.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Zoumana. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zoumana today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zoumana births was 2022 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zoumana. 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 Zoumana. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2022
5 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,317
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Zoumana: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Zoumana 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 Zoumana 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 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Zoumana
The name Zoumana originates from the Bambara language spoken in Mali, West Africa. It is an ancient name that can be traced back to the Mali Empire, which flourished between the 13th and 17th centuries. The name is derived from the root word "zou," which means "lion" or "brave warrior."
In the Bambara culture, names often carried symbolic meanings and were chosen to reflect the desired qualities or aspirations for the child. The name Zoumana was typically given to boys with the hope that they would grow up to be courageous, strong, and fearless leaders, like the mighty lion.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Zoumana can be found in historical texts and oral traditions from the Mali Empire. One notable figure was Zoumana Bakari Ture, a renowned military commander and advisor to the legendary emperor Sundiata Keita in the 13th century. Ture played a pivotal role in the empire's expansion and consolidation of power.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Zoumana was a 14th-century scholar and griot (a West African historian, storyteller, and oral historian) named Zoumana Kante. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of the Bambara culture, traditions, and genealogies, and his works were instrumental in preserving the rich history of the Mali Empire.
In the 16th century, Zoumana Samake was a influential chief and diplomat who helped negotiate treaties and maintain peaceful relations between the Mali Empire and neighboring kingdoms. His diplomatic skills were highly regarded, and he played a crucial role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange.
During the 18th century, Zoumana Coulibaly was a respected leader and reformer who advocated for social and economic changes within the Bambara society. He is remembered for his efforts to promote education and empowerment of women, as well as his advocacy for sustainable agricultural practices.
Throughout history, the name Zoumana has been associated with individuals who have demonstrated remarkable courage, leadership, and dedication to their communities. While its usage may have evolved over time, the name continues to carry a rich cultural significance and a connection to the proud heritage of the Bambara people.
People
Zoumana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zoumana as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zoumana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zoumana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zoumana 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 Zoumana a common name?
We classify Zoumana 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 Zoumana most popular?
The single biggest year for Zoumana was 2022, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zoumana is about 4 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 Zoumana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zoumana a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zoumana 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 Zoumana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zoumana 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 Zoumana 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 Zoumana?
Find out how many people share the name Zoumana on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.