Kenyatta is a unique and distinctive given name of African origin. It is derived from the Maasai people of Kenya, East Africa, and translates to "having a steady hand." The name has gained international recognition primarily due to its association with Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya, who held office from 1964 until his death in 1978.
Jomo Kenyatta was born as Kamau wa Ngengi on October 20, 1897, near Gatundu, Kiambu County. He later adopted the name Johnstone during his education but eventually chose Jomo Kenyatta as his official moniker. The name Kenyatta itself means "having a steady hand" in Maasai language.
The use of Kenyatta as a given name has since become more prevalent, both within Kenya and among the African diaspora worldwide. It is often chosen by parents who wish to honor Kenya's independence struggle and its first leader, Jomo Kenyatta. The name also carries connotations of strength, wisdom, and steadfastness, reflecting the qualities associated with its meaning.
In summary, Kenyatta is a unique and powerful name of African origin that carries historical significance due to its association with Kenya's first president. Its meaning, "having a steady hand," has contributed to its appeal as a given name, embodying qualities such as steadfastness, strength, and wisdom.
The name Kenyatta has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. In the early 1960s, it started with just 6 births recorded in 1961, but it quickly gained traction, reaching a peak of 226 births in 1975. This was followed by a gradual decline, with the number of births fluctuating between 30 and 180 until the late 1980s.
The name's popularity reached another peak in the mid-1990s, with 67 births recorded in 1994 and 70 births in 1996. However, it began to decline again in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reaching a low of 10 births in 2015.
Since then, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Kenyatta, with around 14 to 17 births recorded each year from 2016 to 2021. However, it remains far below its peak levels of the past.
Overall, according to the statistics provided, a total of 3207 births bearing the name Kenyatta have been recorded in the United States since 1961.