Ikena
A feminine Hawaiian name meaning "supreme" or "celestial".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ikena. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ikena today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ikena births was 2021 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ikena. 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 Ikena. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2021
5 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,842
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Ikena: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ikena 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 Ikena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ikena
The name Ikena has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture, tracing back to ancient Polynesian roots. The name is believed to have derived from the Hawaiian word "ikena," meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom." It is a name that carries deep significance and reverence within the Hawaiian tradition.
Historically, the name Ikena was associated with individuals who possessed great knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding. In ancient Hawaiian society, elders and spiritual leaders were often bestowed with names that reflected their esteemed status and connection to the sacred knowledge of their ancestors.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ikena can be found in the ancient Hawaiian chants and oral traditions, where it was used to honor and revere those who had attained a profound understanding of the natural world and the spiritual realm.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Ikena. One such person was Ikena Kama (c. 1750-1820), a renowned Hawaiian navigator and explorer who was renowned for his expertise in celestial navigation and his ability to guide voyaging canoes across vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean.
Another prominent figure was Ikena Keawe (c. 1820-1890), a revered Hawaiian kahuna (priest) and healer, known for his deep understanding of traditional Hawaiian healing practices and his connection to the spiritual realms.
In the late 19th century, Ikena Pua'a (1865-1935) was a respected Hawaiian scholar and educator who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the Hawaiian language, culture, and traditions. His contributions were instrumental in ensuring the survival and continuity of Hawaiian knowledge and practices.
The name Ikena also found its way into the realm of Hawaiian royalty. Ikena Kalani (1890-1960) was a member of the Hawaiian royal family and a prominent figure in the Hawaiian renaissance movement, working tirelessly to revive and perpetuate the traditions and customs of her ancestors.
Another notable individual was Ikena Kekoa (1920-2005), a celebrated Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner who was renowned for his intricate wood carvings and his deep understanding of Hawaiian symbolism and spirituality.
While the name Ikena is not as commonly used today as it once was, it continues to hold a special place in Hawaiian culture and serves as a reminder of the profound reverence for knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding that has been passed down through generations.
People
Ikena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ikena as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ikena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ikena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ikena 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Ikena a common name?
We classify Ikena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ikena most popular?
The single biggest year for Ikena was 2021, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ikena is about 5 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 Ikena in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ikena a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ikena 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 Ikena still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ikena 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 Ikena 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 Ikena?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.