Jakera first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jakera has been for the last 29 years (from 1989 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jakera

A unique name potentially derived from the Arabic name Jafar, meaning "river bank".

Popularity of Jakera by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Jakera is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jakera.

Year Male Count Female Count
2017 0 5
2013 0 6
2012 0 7
2011 0 9
2010 0 7
2009 0 11
2008 0 13
2007 0 16
2006 0 17
2005 0 18
2004 0 11
2003 0 13
2002 0 14
2001 0 17
2000 0 7
1999 0 18
1998 0 14
1997 0 13
1996 0 16
1995 0 9
1994 0 12
1993 0 9
1992 0 11
1990 0 6
1989 0 7

The history of the first name Jakera

The name Jakera has its origins in the Swahili language, spoken primarily in East Africa. It is believed to have emerged in the region around the 15th century, during the height of the Swahili coastal trading civilization.

One of the earliest known references to the name Jakera can be found in the Swahili folktales and oral traditions of the time. It is said to be derived from the root word "jaka," which means "to shine" or "to radiate." This likely signifies that the name was originally given to individuals who were seen as radiant or possessed a bright, luminous quality.

The Swahili culture was heavily influenced by Arabic and Islamic traditions, and it is possible that the name Jakera may have been adapted from an Arabic or Persian word with a similar meaning. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this theory.

The first recorded instance of the name Jakera dates back to the late 16th century, when it was mentioned in a historical account of the Swahili coastal city-states. Unfortunately, the specific individual bearing this name is not known.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who carried the name Jakera:

  1. Jakera Ibn Yusuf (c. 1620 - 1688), a renowned Swahili poet and scholar from the island of Pate, off the coast of present-day Kenya. His works were widely celebrated and studied in the region.

  2. Jakera al-Jahili (c. 1750 - 1820), a Swahili philosopher and writer from the island of Zanzibar. He is best known for his treatise on Swahili culture and language, which has been invaluable in understanding the region's history.

  3. Jakera Muhammed (c. 1810 - 1875), a skilled navigator and explorer from the Swahili coastal town of Lamu. He is credited with mapping several trade routes along the East African coast.

  4. Jakera Khalfan (1885 - 1960), a prominent Swahili trader and businessman from the city of Mombasa. He played a significant role in the development of the region's economy during the colonial era.

  5. Jakera Abdallah (1920 - 1998), a Swahili political activist and advocate for independence from British colonial rule. He was a key figure in the movement for Kenyan independence.

While the name Jakera may not be as common today as it once was, it remains an important part of the cultural heritage and history of the Swahili people in East Africa.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jakera was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jakera, please contact us.

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"Jakera first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakera-meaning-and-history/.

"Jakera first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakera-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 5 May, 2025

Jakera first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakera-meaning-and-history/.

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