Jakisha
A feminine given name of uncertain origin, possibly a blend of "Jacqueline" and "Keisha".
Name Census estimates that about 45 living Americans carry the first name Jakisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jakisha today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jakisha births was 1982 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jakisha. 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 Jakisha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
45
~ 1 in 7,616,763 Americans
Peak year
1982
8 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1993 SSA rank
#11,024
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Jakisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jakisha from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 30 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jakisha 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 Jakisha 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 Jakisha
The name Jakisha has its roots in the West African region, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria. It is believed to have originated from the Akan language, which is spoken by the Akan people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. The name is a combination of two Akan words: "Jaki," meaning "lady," and "sha," meaning "gratitude" or "thanks."
In Akan culture, names often carry significant meanings and are chosen carefully to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents for their child. The name Jakisha, therefore, can be interpreted as "lady of gratitude" or "thankful lady."
While the exact origin of the name is difficult to pinpoint, some historical records suggest that it may have been in use among the Akan people as early as the 16th century, during the time of the Ashanti Empire, one of the most influential kingdoms in West Africa.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Jakisha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Jakisha Akyempong (c. 1680-1745), a renowned Akan trader and diplomat who played a crucial role in facilitating trade between the Ashanti Empire and European merchants during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Another notable figure is Jakisha Mensah (1825-1892), a Ghanaian educator and activist who advocated for the education of women and girls in her community. She is remembered for establishing one of the first schools for girls in the Ashanti region, paving the way for greater access to education for future generations.
In the late 20th century, Jakisha Browning (1958-2021) was an American writer and poet known for her works exploring themes of identity, race, and social justice. Her poetry collections, including "Jakisha's Embrace" and "Rhythms of Resilience," garnered critical acclaim and brought recognition to the name Jakisha in literary circles.
More recently, Jakisha Vaughan (born 1985) is a Ghanaian-American entrepreneur and fashion designer who has made a name for herself in the sustainable fashion industry. Her label, "Jakisha Vaughan Designs," is renowned for its use of eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices, combining traditional Ghanaian textiles with contemporary designs.
Jakisha Williams (born 1991) is a prominent figure in the world of sports, being a professional basketball player who has represented the United States in international competitions. Her athletic achievements and dedication to the game have earned her recognition and brought further visibility to the name Jakisha.
People
Jakisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jakisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jakisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jakisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 45 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jakisha 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 7,616,763 US residents.
Is Jakisha a common name?
We classify Jakisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 48 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jakisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Jakisha was 1982, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jakisha is about 42 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 Jakisha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jakisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jakisha 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 Jakisha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jakisha 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 Jakisha 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 are named Jakisha?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Jakisha at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.