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Uhuru

oo-HOO-roo /uˈhuːru/ Swahili

At a glance

U.S. rank 2025
Not in the 2025 data · last seen 1973 (#4,054)
Babies in 1973
7 (<0.01% of boys)
Peak
#3,370 in 1971
First recorded
1970

Meaning of Uhuru

Uhuru, pronounced oo-HOO-roo, is a Swahili name meaning “freedom” that drifts from the lips like a gentle salsa rhythm under a fiery Latin sunset, promising an open horizon as wide as a sun-baked plaza. In its soft cadence, it carries centuries of hope—from the triumphant marches of Uhuru Day in East Africa to whispered blessings on a newborn’s brow—painting a narrative of la libertad that warms the heart like morning rays across the Serengeti. For parents craving a name woven with history and happiness, Uhuru is a story in motion, a vow that their son’s spirit will soar on invisible wings, light as laughter at a family fiesta.

How to pronounce Uhuru

Swahili

Popularity of Uhuru in the U.S.

Uhuru was last recorded in the U.S. in 1973, ranked #4,054 with 7 babies. It peaked at #3,370 in 1971. It first appears in the records in 1970.

Bar and line chart: Uhuru in the U.S., 1970–1973. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 9 in 1971 and 7 in 1973. Line: rank among boy names, peak #3,370 in 1971, #4,054 in 1973.
  • Boys named Uhuru (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1970–1973. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 1970⁠–⁠1973 4 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
197374,054▼ 91
197273,963▼ 593
197193,370▲ 1,354
197054,724new

Notable people named Uhuru

  • Uhuru Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician who served as the country's fourth president from 2013 to 2022.