Fun Facts About the Name Africa
- More than 1 thousand babies named Africa: U.S. records list 1,042 babies given the name Africa from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Africa Mean?
Africa is a feminine given name taken from the Latin place name Africa, which originally referred to the Roman province in North Africa. The ultimate meaning of the place name is uncertain. Latin Africa is generally thought to come from the Afri, a people of the region, so it would mean "land of the Afri." The origin of Afri is not settled. One proposed source is a Berber root ifri, "cave," also reflected in the Arabic name Ifrīqiyā. Another is Phoenician or Punic afar, "dust." Latin aprica, "sunny," has also been suggested, but it may be a coincidence or a later interpretation rather than the true origin. Greek writers used Aphrikē; the Greek form could be understood as "without cold" from a- (not) and phrikē (cold), but that is likely an ancient folk etymology. In Spanish the name appears as África, and in English it is usually written without the accent.
Africa Name History & Origins
The Roman province called Africa was established in 146 BC after Rome defeated Carthage. It covered the area around Carthage, in what is now Tunisia and eastern Algeria. Over time the name was extended: by late antiquity it could refer to a larger part of North Africa, and in later European usage it became the name of the whole continent. Arabic Ifrīqiyā, borrowed from Latin, continued to designate the former province and then a wider region. European languages took Africa from Latin.
As a personal name, Spanish África is associated with Nuestra Señora de África, a Marian title venerated in Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast. The name is used in Spain and in Equatorial Guinea, where Spanish is an official language. In English, Africa is a feminine given name adopted directly from the continent name and usually written without the accent.
How Popular is the Name Africa?
Africa has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1972. Its best rank was #1,325 in 1972.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,945 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #15,287 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #8,485 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #9,070 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #9,577 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #11,118 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #12,483 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #12,505 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #7,846 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #10,127 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #10,886 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,533 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #8,154 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #12,228 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #10,392 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #11,272 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #7,346 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #7,415 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #8,104 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #5,553 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2005 | #13,040 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #10,706 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #10,440 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #13,625 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #7,328 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #6,813 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #9,495 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #5,127 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #5,419 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #4,310 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1995 | #4,099 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1994 | #3,893 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1993 | #4,827 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #4,848 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #5,665 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #6,133 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #7,457 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #9,254 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,989 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #5,760 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #7,567 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #9,153 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,216 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #4,347 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #4,162 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #3,995 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,997 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1978 | #1,988 | 48 | 0.0031% |
| 1977 | #2,516 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1976 | #2,027 | 43 | 0.0029% |
| 1975 | #2,136 | 40 | 0.0027% |
| 1974 | #2,254 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1973 | #1,510 | 62 | 0.0043% |
| 1972 | #1,325 | 76 | 0.0050% |
| 1971 | #1,709 | 53 | 0.0032% |
| 1970 | #3,030 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #5,979 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Africa Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Africa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Africa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.