Makoa
Hawaiian origin meaning "brave, daring" or "wild, untamed plant".
Name Census estimates that about 1,277 living Americans carry the first name Makoa. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Makoa today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Makoa births was 2024 (191 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Makoa. 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
- • Makoa is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 11 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 268,406 Americans
Peak year
2024
191 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,117
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Makoa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Makoa from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 609 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
Makoa 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 Makoa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Makoas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 18 states and territories. Hawaii, California, Washington recorded the most babies named Makoa, while Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 45 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Makoa
The name Makoa has its origins in the Polynesian languages spoken across the Pacific islands. It is believed to have originated in the Hawaiian language, where it was derived from the word 'mākoā,' meaning 'fearless' or 'brave.' The name dates back to the ancient Polynesian culture, which thrived across the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and other island nations.
In Hawaiian mythology, Makoa was the name of a legendary chief known for his bravery and prowess in battle. This association with valor and strength likely contributed to the name's popularity among the Hawaiian people. The earliest recorded instances of the name Makoa can be found in Hawaiian oral traditions and chants passed down through generations.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Makoa was a Hawaiian chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his involvement in the conflicts between the various islands during that period. Another notable figure was Makoa Kamau, a Hawaiian warrior who fought alongside King Kamehameha I in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Beyond Hawaii, the name Makoa has also been used in other Polynesian cultures. In Samoa, for instance, the name has been recorded as far back as the 19th century. One of the most famous Samoans to bear the name was Makoa Sopi, a renowned wood carver and artist who lived in the early 20th century.
In the realm of sports, Makoa Freitas was a prominent Hawaiian surfer who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. He was known for his innovative approach to surfing and his contributions to the sport's development in Hawaii.
Another notable individual with the name Makoa was Makoa Kauali'i, a Hawaiian musician and composer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was instrumental in preserving and promoting traditional Hawaiian music and helped shape the genre's modern form.
While the name Makoa has its roots in Polynesian cultures, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with an appreciation for its historical and cultural significance. However, the name's rich history and connections to the brave warriors and respected figures of ancient Polynesian societies remain an integral part of its essence.
People
Makoa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Makoa 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
Makoa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Makoa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,277 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Makoa 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 268,406 US residents.
Is Makoa a common name?
We classify Makoa as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,288 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Makoa most popular?
The single biggest year for Makoa was 2024, when 191 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Makoa is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Makoa a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Makoa 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.