Mamadou
Meaningpraised one · Wolof
Mamadou is an African boy name meaning “praised one”, with Wolof 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Mamadou would score 12 points.
- GenerationMamadou peaked in 2003, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Mamadou you'd meet today is about 22 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Mamadou would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 18,553 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMamadou first shows up in US birth records in 1990, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 35 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Mamadous? Head to New York, where it's the #387 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1990–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Mamadou
Mamadou is a boy name of African origin meaning “praised one”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Mamadou
What does the name Mamadou mean?
Mamadou means “praised one” and comes from Wolof. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Jude (“praised”), Judah (“praised”), Muhammad (“praised”) and Mohamed (“praised”).
What is the origin of the name Mamadou?
Mamadou is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Wolof. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Mamadou a boy or girl name?
Mamadou is a boy name. In 2025, 92 US boys were named Mamadou.
How popular is the name Mamadou?
Mamadou ranked #1,753 for US boys in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 2003, when it reached #1,538. Over the last five years it has climbed 864 places.
What names are similar to Mamadou?
If you like Mamadou, you might also like Jude, Judah, Muhammad and Mohamed.
What should I know before naming my baby Mamadou?
Mamadou is an African boy name meaning “praised one”, with Wolof 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.