Entry № 993 · Hausa origin

Binta Binta — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ BEEN-tah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Hausa
Meaning
"Daughter (Hausa Wolof heritage; Roots)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (Arabic)

A name that means "daughter (hausa wolof heritage; roots)".

Binta is from the Hausa, Wolof, and broader West African Arabic-influenced Binta — short form of bint (daughter). A modern American baby name in the broader West African heritage aesthetic. Binta Kinte — *iconic mother of Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley's iconic Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976) — Pulitzer Prize Special Citation (1977); over 8 million copies sold worldwide; one of the most-influential African American literary works of the 20th century; the iconic 1977 ABC miniseries adaptation drew 130+ million viewers and won 9 Emmy Awards; the iconic 2016 History Channel remake starring Malachi Kirby as Kunta Kinte introduced the story to a new generation; the iconic character Binta Kinte represents the Mandinka heritage of West African peoples; Binta has become one of the most-popular West African heritage names in the African-American diaspora since the 1970s. Binta in Hausa tradition — used widely across northern Nigerian Hausa-speaking communities (the Hausa people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with over 80 million speakers). Binta Diallo — modern Senegalese-American figure. Binta Sidibé — modern Malian-American figure. Princess Binta* — modern West African royal heritage naming.

Featured throughout West African heritage and African-American literature.

Daughter (Hausa/Wolof). Iconic Binta Kinte in Alex Haley's Roots (1976 + 1977 miniseries 130M+ viewers + 2016 remake).

The name in its native script.

بنت
Transliteration
Binta
Pronunciation
/ ˈbiːn.tə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Binta stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Binta · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Bintas before her.

Real people

In fiction
Binta Kinte
Iconic mother of Kunta Kinte in Roots.
1976

Names connected to Binta.

The number behind Binta.

5

The Free Spirit

Binta reduces to five.

Why families chose this name.

"West African daughter. Five letters. Binta."
Fatou · Mother of one · Dakar