Nkosi

♂ Boy

Pronounced en-KOH-see /ɛnˈkoʊ.si/Medium

Meaning: From the Zulu and Xhosa Nkosi, 'king; lord; chief' - a word of honor and leadership, heard in the anthem 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.' Noted respectfully.Low

In 30 seconds: A name of honor: Nkosi is Zulu/Xhosa for 'king; lord' (said 'en-KOH-see'). Strong and dignified.

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Origin MediumZulu, Xhosa

MeaningFrom the Zulu and Xhosa Nkosi, 'king; lord; chief' - a word of honor and leadership, heard in the anthem 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.' Noted respectfully.

U.S. rank (2022)#10548 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 367

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

Nkosi comes from the Zulu/Xhosa for 'king; lord; chief,' a word of honor in Southern Africa. It reads strong and dignified - rare in the U.S. (said 'en-KOH-see').

It is extremely rare in the U.S.

Did you know? Nkosi is Zulu and Xhosa for 'king; lord; chief' - a word of leadership heard in the anthem 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' - a strong, dignified name, noted respectfully (said 'en-KOH-see').

Overall data confidence 48%

References - Nkosi — Zulu/Xhosa 'king; lord; chief' (Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika)

Variations

NkosanaNkosiInkosi

Nicknames

KosiNko

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nkosi mean?

Nkosi is Zulu and Xhosa for 'king; lord; chief,' heard in the anthem Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika.

How do you pronounce Nkosi?

It's said en-KOH-see /ɛnˈkoʊ.si/ - three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Nkosi a boy or girl name?

Nkosi is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Nkosi?

Nkosi is extremely rare in the U.S.