Africa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	7	1	–	#5,979
1970s	441	44	+6200%	#1,325
1980s	115	12	-74%	#3,994
1990s	193	19	+68%	#3,893
2000s	133	13	-31%	#5,553
2010s	99	10	-26%	#7,847
2020s (to 2025)	54	9	-9%	#8,498

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

#5,979

1970s

441

+6200%

#1,325

1980s

115

-74%

#3,994

1990s

193

+68%

#3,893

2000s

133

-31%

#5,553

2010s

-26%

#7,847

2020s (to 2025)

-9%

#8,498

The story of Africa

Africa is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,945 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1969, 1,042 American babies have been named Africa. Its peak came in 1972, when 76 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Africa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Africa?

The median living Africa is about 39 years old; half are between 23 and 50. An estimated 1,000 people named Africa are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Africa year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	8	#10,945
2024	5	#15,336
2023	12	#8,498
2022	11	#9,073
2021	10	#9,577
2020	8	#11,124
2019	7	#12,485
2018	7	#12,507
2017	14	#7,847
2016	10	#10,131
2015	9	#10,890
2014	11	#9,534
2013	14	#8,154
2012	8	#12,229
2011	10	#10,394
2010	9	#11,273
2009	17	#7,347
2008	17	#7,417
2007	15	#8,105
2006	24	#5,553
2005	7	#13,041
2004	9	#10,706
2003	9	#10,441
2002	6	#13,625
2001	14	#7,328
2000	15	#6,813
1995	25	#4,099
1990	14	#6,132
1985	8	#7,567
1980	19	#3,994
1975	40	#2,136
1970	22	#3,030
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Africa, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Africa?

The median living Africa is about 39 years old. Half of all living Africas are between 23 and 50 years old.

How many people named Africa are alive today?

An estimated 1,000 people named Africa are alive in the United States, based on 1,042 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Africa in 2025?

Africa ranked #10,945 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Africa?

1,042 babies have been named Africa in the United States since 1969, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Africa most popular?

Africa peaked in 1972, when 76 newborns received the name.

Is Africa a boy or girl name?

Africa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Africa rising or falling?

Africa is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Africa

Africa popularity over time

The story of Africa

How old are people named Africa?

Africa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Africa