Simba
- Pronunciation
- [SIM-buh]
- IPA
- /ˈsɪm.bə/
- Gender
- Unisex
- Meaning
- “Lion” in Swahili; the same spelling can mean “power, strength” in Shona
- Origin
- Swahili and Shona words with different meanings
Simba means “lion” in Swahili and is the lion cub’s name in Disney’s The Lion King. The same spelling also occurs as a Shona name with a different meaning.
About Simba
In Shona, Simba is recorded with the meaning “power, strength.” That is a separate language entry, not a second translation of the movie character's Swahili name. Nala and Mufasa are other Lion King character names, not forms of Simba.
Sources & Verification
- Simba in Swahili — Behind the Name
- Simba in Shona — Behind the Name
- The Lion King — Disney
- Simba English pronunciation — Collins Dictionary
Evidence reviewed 2026-09-22.
Similar Names
Simba in NYC dog-license records
Ranks are within each NYC license extract, not national puppy rankings. Each row in the source is a license period, so a dog renewed within the same extract year can be counted more than once. These are record counts, not counts of unique dogs. The 2026 extract was retrieved on 2026-09-22.
| Extract year | Rank | Licensed records | Source | Retrieved / reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #85 | 175 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2017 | #96 | 105 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2018 | #78 | 117 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2022 | #90 | 367 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2023 | #69 | 194 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2024 | #62 | 196 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
| 2026 | #82 | 158 | NYC Open Data | 2026-09-22 |
Practical Use Check
Intended reference
If you tell people Simba means “lion,” use the Swahili context; the separate Shona name has a different meaning.