Kawika
A Hawaiian masculine name meaning "David's child".
Name Census estimates that about 1,169 living Americans carry the first name Kawika. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kawika today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kawika births was 1992 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kawika. 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.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 293,203 Americans
Peak year
1992
35 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,022
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Kawika: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kawika from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 270 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Kawika remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kawika 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 Kawika during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kawikas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kawika
The name Kawika originates from the Hawaiian language and culture. It is a male name that has been used in Hawaii for centuries. The name is derived from the Hawaiian word "ka wika," which means "the messenger" or "the envoy."
In ancient Hawaiian mythology, Kawika was the name of a messenger of the gods who was tasked with delivering important messages and warnings to the people. The name was associated with strength, courage, and the ability to communicate effectively.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kawika can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was mentioned in Hawaiian oral traditions and chants. The name gained popularity among Hawaiian royalty and nobility, and it was often given to sons of chiefs and rulers.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Kawika was Kawika Kapahukuloloku, a celebrated Hawaiian warrior and chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his bravery in battle and his unwavering loyalty to his people.
Another notable Kawika was Kawika Crowningburg, a Hawaiian scholar and linguist who lived in the 19th century. He played a crucial role in preserving the Hawaiian language and culture by translating ancient texts and compiling dictionaries.
In the early 20th century, Kawika Kahanamoku was a renowned Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimmer. He is credited with popularizing the sport of surfing and introducing it to the world. He won numerous medals and accolades for his athletic achievements.
Kawika Kapahola was a Hawaiian musician and composer who lived in the mid-20th century. He was a master of traditional Hawaiian music and contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Hawaiian cultural heritage.
Kawika Makalena was a Hawaiian activist and community leader who fought for the rights of Native Hawaiians in the late 20th century. He was instrumental in raising awareness about the struggles and issues faced by indigenous communities in Hawaii.
People
Kawika + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kawika as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kawika: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kawika?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,169 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kawika 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 293,203 US residents.
Is Kawika a common name?
We classify Kawika as "Rare". It ranks above 91.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,202 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kawika most popular?
The single biggest year for Kawika was 1992, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kawika is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kawika a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kawika 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.
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.