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Pendo

Girl name · African

Meaninglove · Swahili

Pendo is an African girl name meaning “love”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. 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 easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationPendo is having its moment right now. Most Pendos are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
  • HistoryPendo first shows up in US birth records in 2022, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
Baby girl in a white dress sitting in the grass
hello, little Pendo

US births per million girls, 2022–2025

01.5320222022

Similar names

Girl name: PenelopeUnisex name: PennyGirl name: Penda
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Pendo

Pendo is a girl name of African origin meaning “love”. 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.

Origin:African names

More African girl names

Questions about the name Pendo

What does the name Pendo mean?

Pendo means “love” and comes from Swahili. Names built around “love” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Nayeli (“possibly I love you”), Amanda (“worthy of love”), Love (“love”) and Eros (“love”).

What is the origin of the name Pendo?

Pendo is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Swahili. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).

Is Pendo a boy or girl name?

Pendo is a girl name.

How popular is the name Pendo?

Pendo is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2022. It peaked at #15,306 in 2022, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.

What names are similar to Pendo?

If you like Pendo, you might also like Nayeli, Amanda, Love and Eros.

What should I know before naming my baby Pendo?

Pendo is an African girl name meaning “love”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. 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 easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.