Dakisha
A feminine name of African origin meaning "to multiply and increase".
Name Census estimates that about 51 living Americans carry the first name Dakisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dakisha today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dakisha births was 1974 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dakisha. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dakisha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
51
~ 1 in 6,720,673 Americans
Peak year
1974
10 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1985 SSA rank
#9,567
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Dakisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dakisha from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 38 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Dakisha remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dakisha 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 Dakisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dakisha
The name Dakisha is believed to have originated from the Swahili language, which is spoken primarily in East Africa, particularly in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The name is thought to derive from the Swahili word "daku," which means "to praise" or "to glorify."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dakisha can be traced back to the 17th century, when it appeared in historical documents from coastal regions of East Africa. At that time, it was commonly used as a name for girls born into families with strong cultural ties to the Swahili people.
While there are no definitive historical records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some scholars suggest that it may have been influenced by the Islamic tradition of giving names with spiritual or religious meanings.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Dakisha. One of the earliest recorded was Dakisha binti Juma, a renowned Swahili poet and storyteller who lived in the late 18th century on the island of Zanzibar. Her works were celebrated for their vivid depictions of local culture and traditions.
Another influential figure was Dakisha Abdallah, a prominent Swahili activist and educator from Tanzania in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in establishing schools and advocating for women's education in her community.
In the realm of sports, Dakisha Kamanda was a celebrated Kenyan track and field athlete who competed in the 1980s and 1990s. She won multiple medals at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships.
Moving to the arts, Dakisha Muthoni was a renowned Kenyan musician and songwriter who gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. Her music blended traditional Swahili melodies with contemporary genres, and she was celebrated for her poetic lyrics and powerful voice.
Lastly, Dakisha Simba was a prominent Tanzanian activist and community leader who dedicated her life to fighting for environmental conservation and sustainable development in her country. She received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts in promoting sustainable practices and protecting natural resources.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Dakisha, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of East Africa and beyond.
People
Dakisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dakisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dakisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dakisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 51 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dakisha 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 6,720,673 US residents.
Is Dakisha a common name?
We classify Dakisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 56 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dakisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Dakisha was 1974, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dakisha is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dakisha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dakisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dakisha 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.
Is Dakisha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dakisha in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dakisha can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Dakisha?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Dakisha on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.