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Rwanda

ruh-WAHN-duh /rʌwɑndə/ Kinyarwanda

At a glance

In short
Rwanda is a unique and beautiful African name, commonly used for baby girls. It carries strong cultural significance and can honor African heritage.
U.S. rank 2025
Not in the 2025 data · last seen 1973 (#8,423)
Babies in 1973
5 (<0.01% of girls)
Peak
#5,414 in 1951
First recorded
1951

Meaning of Rwanda

Rwanda is a unique and beautiful name of African origin. It is most commonly used for baby girls. The name Rwanda is derived from the Kinyarwanda language, and it is pronounced as ruh-WAHN-duh (/rʌwɑndə/). This name carries a strong cultural significance, being associated with the East African country of Rwanda, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. While not very common in the United States, it has been steadily used over the years, with occasional occurrences since the 1950s. Choosing the name Rwanda for your daughter can be a powerful way to honor African heritage and celebrate the beauty of this region.

How to pronounce Rwanda

Kinyarwanda

Popularity of Rwanda in the U.S.

Rwanda was last recorded in the U.S. in 1973, ranked #8,423 with 5 babies. It peaked at #5,414 in 1951. It first appears in the records in 1951.

Bar and line chart: Rwanda in the U.S., 1951–1973. Bars: girls given the name each year, most 5 in 1951 and 5 in 1973. Line: rank among girl names, peak #5,414 in 1951, #8,423 in 1973.
  • Girls named Rwanda (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1951–1973. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 1951⁠–⁠1973 2 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
197358,423back
195155,414new