Kwame
Boy name · #2957 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kwame? In official American birth records, Kwame has been tracked continuously since 1960, giving it 65 years of documented American history.
Kwame is currently the #2957 boy name in the United States — 42 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3149, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 42,857 boys born in 2025 was named Kwame.
The 65-year story
Kwame first appears in the Social Security records in 1960, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 299 boys were named Kwame — good for #583 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Kwame per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kwame against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kwame in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kwame is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kwame will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kwame is most common
State-level data for Kwame is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kwame
Statistically, parents drawn to Kwame tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Korey, Shayne, Brice, Kory, and Kurtis.
KoreyShayneBriceKoryKurtisJadeKoriKendell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kwame | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | #2941 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 38 | #3177 |
| 2022 | 51 | #2616 |
| 2021 | 48 | #2652 |
| 2020 | 52 | #2467 |
| 2019 | 49 | #2626 |
| 2018 | 40 | #2943 |
| 2017 | 43 | #2798 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 36 | #3149 |
| 2014 | 39 | #2929 |
| 2013 | 48 | #2528 |
| 2012 | 52 | #2415 |
| 2011 | 56 | #2284 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2008 | 65 | #2104 |
| 2007 | 40 | #2920 |
| 2006 | 47 | #2542 |
| 2005 | 57 | #2129 |
| 2004 | 62 | #1953 |
| 2003 | 50 | #2180 |
| 2002 | 84 | #1498 |
| 2001 | 79 | #1527 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kwame?
In official American birth records, the name Kwame first appeared in 1960 (over 65 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 65 years.
Is Kwame a popular boy name?
Kwame ranked #2957 among boys in 2025 with 42 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3149.
When was the name Kwame most popular?
Kwame peaked in 1990, when 299 American boys received the name (ranked #583 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kwame?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 42,857 newborn American boys was named Kwame. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.