Chiamaka
An Igbo name meaning "God is beautiful" or "God has done a beautiful thing".
Name Census estimates that about 625 living Americans carry the first name Chiamaka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Chiamaka today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chiamaka births was 2017 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chiamaka. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
625
~ 1 in 548,407 Americans
Peak year
2017
34 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,024
Tracked since 1988
Popularity
Chiamaka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chiamaka from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 248 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chiamaka by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Chiamaka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Chiamakas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, California, Maryland recorded the most babies named Chiamaka, while Georgia, New York, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Chiamaka
Chiamaka is a given name that originates from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. The name is derived from the Igbo words "Chi" meaning "God" and "amaka" meaning "beautiful" or "good". Thus, the name Chiamaka translates to "God is beautiful" or "God's beauty".
This given name has been in use among the Igbo people of Nigeria for centuries, and its roots can be traced back to the cultural and religious traditions of this West African ethnic group. The Igbo people have a rich oral tradition, and their names often carry deep symbolism and meaning, reflecting their values and beliefs.
While there are no known references to the name Chiamaka in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is likely that the name has been in use since pre-colonial times in Nigeria. The earliest recorded examples of the name are found in historical records and documents from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the colonial era in Nigeria.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Chiamaka was Chiamaka Okwor, a Nigerian woman born in the late 19th century who was known for her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. She was a successful trader and was instrumental in promoting economic development in her community.
Another notable figure with the name Chiamaka was Chiamaka Okeke, a Nigerian educator and women's rights advocate born in the early 20th century. She dedicated her life to promoting education and empowerment for women and girls, and her work had a significant impact on the advancement of women's rights in Nigeria.
In the mid-20th century, Chiamaka Nwosu was a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people. Her intricate carvings and sculptures depicting traditional Igbo themes and motifs were widely acclaimed and exhibited both nationally and internationally.
More recently, Chiamaka Ajeamo, born in the 1970s, is a Nigerian writer and journalist who has gained recognition for her insightful articles and commentaries on social and political issues in Nigeria. Her work has shed light on important topics and has contributed to public discourse and awareness.
Chiamaka Nri, born in the late 20th century, is a Nigerian fashion designer and entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in the global fashion industry. Her unique designs, which blend traditional Igbo aesthetics with contemporary styles, have been showcased on international runways and have gained a following among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike.
People
Chiamaka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chiamaka as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Chiamaka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chiamaka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 625 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chiamaka going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 548,407 US residents.
Is Chiamaka a common name?
We classify Chiamaka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 634 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chiamaka most popular?
The single biggest year for Chiamaka was 2017, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chiamaka is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Chiamaka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Chiamaka in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.