Lasheka
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly African-American or a variant of Lashanda.
Name Census estimates that about 284 living Americans carry the first name Lasheka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lasheka today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lasheka births was 1980 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lasheka. 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
284
~ 1 in 1,206,881 Americans
Peak year
1980
21 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1994 SSA rank
#11,220
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Lasheka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lasheka 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 170 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
Lasheka 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 Lasheka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lashekas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Lasheka
The name Lasheka has its origins in the African American community, specifically in the southern United States. It is believed to have emerged in the late 20th century as a unique and creative combination of elements from various African and African American naming traditions.
One possible interpretation of the name suggests that it is a blend of the names Lashonda and Shekeya. Lashonda is a name of African American origin, with roots tracing back to the vernacular phrase "the shonda" or "the wonder." Shekeya, on the other hand, is a name of uncertain origin, but it may have connections to the West African region.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Lasheka in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its emergence can be seen as a reflection of the cultural pride and identity of African Americans during the latter part of the 20th century. This period saw a resurgence of interest in African-inspired names and a desire to create unique monikers that celebrated one's heritage.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Lasheka are relatively recent, with the first instances appearing in birth records and census data from the 1970s and 1980s. However, it is important to note that record-keeping practices, particularly for African American communities, were often inconsistent or incomplete in earlier periods, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the name.
Throughout its relatively short history, the name Lasheka has been borne by several notable individuals. One example is Lasheka Moore, a professional basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for teams like the Houston Comets and the Detroit Shock in the early 2000s. Another individual with this name is Lasheka Jayroe, an American singer and songwriter known for her work in the gospel and contemporary Christian music genres.
Other individuals who have carried the name Lasheka include Lasheka Melvin, an American track and field athlete who specialized in the 100-meter hurdles and competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Additionally, Lasheka Masamba is a South African actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films.
It is worth noting that while the name Lasheka has gained popularity within the African American community, it has also been adopted by individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting the growing trend of embracing unique and culturally significant names across different societies.
People
Lasheka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lasheka as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lasheka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lasheka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 284 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lasheka 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 1,206,881 US residents.
Is Lasheka a common name?
We classify Lasheka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 304 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lasheka most popular?
The single biggest year for Lasheka was 1980, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lasheka is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lasheka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lasheka 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.
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.