Africa
A girl's name of Latin origin with 1,034 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The continent that is south of Europe, east of the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Indian Ocean and north of Antarctica.
Africa is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin name for the continent — possibly from the Berber word ifri (cave, dwelling) or from Afri, a people of North Africa. As a given name, it honors one of the world's most culturally, geographically, and historically vast continents.
Africa as a given name has been used across communities with African heritage as an act of cultural pride and geographic identity. It carries the entire weight of the world's second-largest continent: its ancient civilizations, its extraordinary biodiversity, its profound human heritage, and its enduring creative power.
EtymologyShow more
Though Africa dates back to 1969 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Latin classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Africa’s 1,034 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Africa was #10706 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #15287, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 46 | #10707 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 99 | #10543 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 133 | #9037 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 193 | #5382 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 115 | #6590 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 441 | #2149 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 7 | #5979 | — |
The Story of Africa
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1972, Africa is a Gen X staple. Girls named Africa are most likely born between 1969 and 1982.
How rare is Africa?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Africa — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1969, peaked in the 1970s with 441 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Africa by the numbers
- Would fill 22 school buses
- Meeting one Africa per day would take 2.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1969–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #15287 |
| 2023 | 12 | #8485 |
| 2022 | 11 | #9070 |
| 2021 | 10 | #9577 |
| 2020 | 8 | #11118 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12483 |
| 2018 | 7 | #12505 |
| 2017 | 14 | #7846 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10127 |
| 2015 | 9 | #10886 |
| 2014 | 11 | #9533 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8154 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12228 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10392 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11272 |
| 2009 | 17 | #7346 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7415 |
| 2007 | 15 | #8104 |
| 2006 | 24 | #5553 |
| 2005 | 7 | #13040 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Africa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Africa most popular?
How popular is the name Africa?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1969–2024