Ekemini
A feminine name of Nigerian Efik/Ibibio origin meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Ekemini. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ekemini today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ekemini births was 2018 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ekemini. 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 Ekemini. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2018
6 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2018 SSA rank
#11,166
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Ekemini: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ekemini 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 Ekemini during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ekemini
Ekemini is a given name of West African origin, specifically from the Efik language spoken in Cross River State, Nigeria. The name is derived from the words "eke" meaning "truth" and "mini" meaning "path" or "road". Together, Ekemini can be translated as "path of truth" or "road of truth".
The earliest known recorded use of the name Ekemini dates back to the 18th century among the Efik people, who were known for their trading prowess and their role in the transatlantic slave trade. The name was likely given to children as a reminder to walk the path of truth and integrity.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Ekemini was Ekemini Eyo, a prominent Efik chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his leadership and diplomatic skills, and played a crucial role in maintaining peaceful relations between the Efik people and the British traders in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Ekemini was Ekemini Oku, a 19th-century Efik trader and philanthropist. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his contributions to the development of his community, including the construction of schools and churches.
In the early 20th century, Ekemini Ita was a prominent Efik educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools and worked tirelessly to promote education and empowerment for women in her community.
Another individual with the name Ekemini was Ekemini Essien, a Nigerian civil servant and diplomat who served as Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States in the 1970s. He played a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries during a period of political and economic turmoil in Nigeria.
Ekemini Ekpo, born in the mid-20th century, was a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor. Her works, which often depicted traditional Efik themes and motifs, were widely exhibited and celebrated both in Nigeria and internationally.
While the name Ekemini has its roots in the Efik culture of Nigeria, it has gained popularity and recognition beyond its place of origin, with individuals bearing the name across various parts of West Africa and the African diaspora.
People
Ekemini + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ekemini as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ekemini: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ekemini?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ekemini 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Ekemini a common name?
We classify Ekemini as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ekemini most popular?
The single biggest year for Ekemini was 2018, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ekemini is about 8 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 Ekemini in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ekemini a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ekemini in the SSA data are male. 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 Ekemini still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ekemini 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 Ekemini 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 many people have the name Ekemini?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.