Nkosi
A unisex name of Zulu origin, meaning king or chief.
Babies a year
7
the US, 2017
Rarity
Very rare
among names in use
US popularity
—
outside the top 1000
UK popularity
—
outside the ONS list
Nkosi by the numbers
Nkosi was given to 7 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 39 babies in 2001, so it is a 2000s name that has since fallen a long way.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Nkosi. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Naokivaries by kanji; commonly straight or honest tree7 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a king or ruler
Like Nkosi, each of these has a king or ruler in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Henryruler of the home2,295 in England and Wales (2025)
- Averyruler of the elves10,365 in the US (2017)
- Ryanlittle king; descendent of rian8,422 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Kinsleyfrom the king's meadow; an English place name used as given name4,048 in the US (2017)
- Arthurbear; the legendary king3,211 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Nkosi
Nobody has voted for Nkosi yet
Vote for Nkosi and put it up against all the other baby names
Vote for Nkosi