Makah
A Native American name meaning "generous traders".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Makah. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Makah today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Makah births was 2009 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Makah. 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 Makah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2009
6 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2010 SSA rank
#11,667
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Makah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Makah from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Makah 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 Makah 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 Makah
The name Makah originates from the Makah Native American tribe, who have inhabited the northwest coast of what is now the state of Washington for centuries. The Makah people speak the Makah language, which is a part of the Wakashan language family. The name is derived from the word "Qʷidiččaʔa·tx̌", which means "people who live by the rocks and seagulls" in the Makah language.
The Makah tribe is known for their intricate woodworking and whaling traditions, which have been passed down through generations. The name Makah is closely tied to their cultural identity and connection to the land and sea.
While the name Makah does not appear in any widely known ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in various historical records and accounts of the Pacific Northwest region. One of the earliest recorded references to the Makah people can be found in the journals of the English explorer John Meares, who encountered them during his voyage in 1788.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have carried the name Makah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Makah, a Makah chief who lived in the late 18th century and played a significant role in establishing relations with European explorers and traders.
Another prominent figure was Makah, a Makah whaler and canoe carver who lived in the mid-19th century and was renowned for his skill and expertise in traditional whaling practices.
In the early 20th century, Makah was also the name of a prominent Makah artist and totem pole carver who helped preserve and promote the tribe's cultural heritage.
Additionally, Makah was the name of a Makah activist and leader who fought for the rights of her people in the latter half of the 20th century, advocating for the preservation of their language and traditions.
Finally, Makah was the name of a Makah fisherman and environmental advocate who played a crucial role in the battle to regain the tribe's fishing rights in the 1970s and 1980s.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Makah throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Makah people.
People
Makah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Makah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Makah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Makah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Makah 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Makah a common name?
We classify Makah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Makah most popular?
The single biggest year for Makah was 2009, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Makah is about 16 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 Makah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Makah a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Makah 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 Makah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Makah 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 Makah 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 Makah as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.