Ishimwe
Meaningpraise · Kinyarwanda
Ishimwe is an African gender-neutral name meaning “praise”, with Kinyarwanda roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. It suits a boy or a girl equally well.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Ishimwe would score 15 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationIshimwe is having its moment right now. Most Ishimwes are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Ishimwe would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 243,902 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryIshimwe first shows up in US birth records in 2020, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
- Boy or girlIshimwe truly works for either: 58% of the 12 babies named Ishimwe in 2025 were boys, the rest girls.
US births per million girls, 2020–2025
US births per million boys, 2020–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Ishimwe
Ishimwe is a gender-neutral name of African origin meaning “praise”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name. It works for a boy or a girl, which suits parents who'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
Origin:African names
More African names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Unisex name: Zuri · beautiful
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
Questions about the name Ishimwe
What does the name Ishimwe mean?
Ishimwe means “praise” and comes from Kinyarwanda. Other gender-neutral names with a similar meaning include Psalm (“song of praise”), Praise (“praise”), Hila (“praise”) and Afreen (“praise, admiration”).
What is the origin of the name Ishimwe?
Ishimwe is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Kinyarwanda. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Cairo (“the victorious”).
Is Ishimwe a boy or girl name?
Both. Ishimwe is a true gender-neutral name used for boys and girls: in 2025, 42% of US babies named Ishimwe were girls and 58% were boys. That balance makes it a good pick if you'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
How popular is the name Ishimwe?
Ishimwe ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 2020, when it reached #9,554. Over the last five years it has slipped 160 places.
What names are similar to Ishimwe?
If you like Ishimwe, you might also like Psalm, Praise, Hila and Afreen.
What should I know before naming my baby Ishimwe?
Ishimwe is an African gender-neutral name meaning “praise”, with Kinyarwanda roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. It suits a boy or a girl equally well. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.