Jomo

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOH-moh /ˈdʒoʊ.moʊ/High

Meaning: Jomo is an African name carried into wide use by Jomo Kenyatta, the founding president of Kenya. In the Kikuyu tradition his name is linked to the image of a 'burning spear', and Americans adopted it as an Afrocentric honor name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Jomo is an African name made famous by Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's founding president, linked in Kikuyu to 'burning spear'. In the US it was a 1970s Afrocentric honor name.

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Origin MediumAfrican, Kikuyu

MeaningJomo is an African name carried into wide use by Jomo Kenyatta, the founding president of Kenya. In the Kikuyu tradition his name is linked to the image of a 'burning spear', and Americans adopted it as an Afrocentric honor name.

U.S. rank (2001)#9871 ↘ Falling

2001 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 355

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jomo is an East African given name best known from Jomo Kenyatta, the anti-colonial leader who became Kenya's first president. His adopted name is associated in Kikuyu with a 'burning' or 'flaming spear', an image of struggle and leadership, and it became a proud choice for African-American families.

Its American use clustered in the era of Black cultural affirmation, reaching its faint peak around 1970 at only a few dozen boys a year and easing off afterward. Jomo reads as a meaningful heritage and honor name rather than a mainstream one, and it remains uncommon and dignified.

Did you know? Jomo entered American naming almost entirely as a tribute to Jomo Kenyatta, whose leadership of Kenya's independence made his name a symbol of African pride during the Black heritage movement of the 1960s and '70s.

Overall data confidence 70%

References - Jomo / Jomo Kenyatta — African name; Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's founding president; Kikuyu 'burning spear'

Variations

JommoJomohJumoJomos

Nicknames

JoMomo

Famous Bearers

★Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978)
anti-colonial leader and founding president of Kenya, for whom the name became famous

If you like Jomo…

Kwame— another African heritage name popular in the same movement

Jabari— a comparable Swahili-rooted boys' name of the era

Kofi— an African day-name chosen for heritage pride

Malik— a strong African/Arabic heritage name of the period

Explore names like Jomo

By themeheritage african honor-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jomo mean?

Jomo is an African name popularized by Jomo Kenyatta, associated in Kikuyu with a 'burning spear'.

How do you pronounce Jomo?

It's said JOH-moh /ˈdʒoʊ.moʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jomo a boy or girl name?

Jomo is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Jomo?

Jomo has always been rare, an Afrocentric honor name that peaked faintly and stayed uncommon.