The baby name Mwaka is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmwɑkɑ/ (M-WAH-kah).
Mwaka is Swahili in Origin.
The baby name Mwaka is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmwɑkɑ/ (M-WAH-kah).
Mwaka is Swahili in Origin.
Mwaka is a unisex Bantu name best known in Swahili, where mwaka means "year." Cognate forms across the region (Bemba umwaka, Luganda omwaka) carry the same sense. As a given name it suggests cycles, renewal, and hope for prosperity, and is often chosen for children born around the New Year, at harvest, or after a significant family milestone.
Used in Tanzania and Kenya and also found in Zambia and neighboring countries, Mwaka appears both as a first name and as a surname. Variants are modest: Waka sometimes serves as an affectionate short form, while cognates like Umwaka/Omwaka reflect the shared Bantu root rather than different meanings. Contemporary usage remains steady, valued for its concise symbolism of beginnings, continuity, and the blessing of time.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BW | 0 | #19 | 1 | 960 | |
| BI | Girls | 0 | #33 | 1 | 726 |
| NA | 0 | #33 | 1 | 2,537 | |
| SD | 0 | #102 | 1 | 2,130 | |
| BW | Girls | 0 | #145 | 7 | 4,216 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #176 | 49 | 7,146 |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #253 | 1 | 6,830 |
| HR | Girls | 0 | #294 | 1 | 3,687 |
| SA | 0 | #312 | 1 | 10,560 | |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #359 | 1 | 8,829 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #419 | 6 | 15,987 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #918 | 1 | 17,948 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #924 | 12 | 25,931 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,230 | 7 | 25,928 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,690 | 2 | 28,008 |
Mwaka is popular in 12 countries — most recent births per country:
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