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Kamau

♂ Boy

Pronounced kah-MAH-oo /kɑˈmɑ.u/Medium

Meaning: From the Kikuyu (Kenyan), 'a quiet warrior'Low

In 30 seconds: A quiet warrior: Kamau is Kikuyu. Crisp, strong, and warm (said 'kah-MAH-oo').

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Origin LowKikuyu

MeaningFrom the Kikuyu (Kenyan), 'a quiet warrior'

U.S. rank (2025)#7946 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1995

Total births (all-time)≈ 931

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

Kamau comes from the Kikuyu (Kenyan), 'a quiet warrior'. A crisp, strong name (borne by writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o, born James Kamau; said 'kah-MAH-oo').

In the U.S. it appears in East African and African-American families. Rare, a-quiet-warrior at the root, and strong.

Did you know? Kamau means 'a quiet warrior' in Kikuyu (Kenyan) — a crisp, strong name (said 'kah-MAH-oo').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Kamau — Kikuyu etymology

Variations

KamaaKammau

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Kamau…

Kamari— a sound-neighbor Kam- boys' name

Jabari— a fellow African boys' name

Kwame— a companion African boys' name

Kofi— another African boys' name

Explore names like Kamau

By themeeast-african kikuyu

By meaningWarrior

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kamau mean?

Kamau is Kikuyu (Kenyan) for 'a quiet warrior'.

How do you pronounce Kamau?

It's said kah-MAH-oo /kɑˈmɑ.u/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Kamau a boy or girl name?

Kamau is a boy's name.

How popular is Kamau?

Kamau is a rare name in the U.S.