Given name & surname
Penda
“one who loves and is loved”·“one who is dearly loved”
Penda is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who loves and is loved” (African) and “one who is dearly loved” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who loves and is loved” (African) and “one who is dearly loved” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Penda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 101
- 0 boys · 101 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 9 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #16,676 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 16,676 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 226 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Penda’s family of names
Penda has a related form in Pendah. Penda has a related form in Penha. Penda has a related form in Penhah.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Penda
- Penda Mbowhistorian, activist, and Senegalese politicianborn 1955
- Penda BahGambian association football playerborn 1998
- Penda SyllaFrench-Senegalese handball playerborn 1990
- Penda DiakitéMalian-American visual artistborn 1992
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Penda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kendi
“one who is dearly loved” · “one who is much loved”
16% boys · 84% girls
Nyala
“resembling an antelope”
>99% girls
Binta
“with God”
>99% girls
Maizah
“one who has good judgment and keen insight”
>99% girls
Abena
“born on a Tuesday”
>99% girls
Winta
“one who is desired”
>99% girls
Kasinda
“daughter born to a family with twins”
>99% girls
Saada
“one who aids others; a helper”
>99% girls