Nakesha
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Native American term "nakess" meaning "greatest".
Name Census estimates that about 981 living Americans carry the first name Nakesha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nakesha today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nakesha births was 1979 (87 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nakesha. 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
981
~ 1 in 349,393 Americans
Peak year
1979
87 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2002 SSA rank
#13,205
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Nakesha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nakesha from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 443 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
Nakesha 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 Nakesha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nakeshas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. Florida, North Carolina, Texas recorded the most babies named Nakesha, while Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nakesha
Nakesha is a name with roots that can be traced back to ancient Africa. It is believed to have originated from the Wolof language, which is spoken primarily in Senegal and parts of Gambia. The name is thought to be derived from the Wolof word "kesu," meaning "blessing" or "good fortune."
In the early days, the name was likely used by the Wolof people as a way to bestow blessings and well-wishes upon a newborn child. It was likely a popular choice for parents who hoped their child would lead a prosperous and fulfilling life.
While there is limited historical documentation of the name's earliest uses, some scholars suggest that it may have been mentioned in oral traditions and folk tales passed down through generations of Wolof storytellers.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nakesha can be found in the writings of a French explorer and ethnographer named Maurice Delafosse, who documented the cultures and languages of West Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Throughout history, the name Nakesha has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person was Nakesha Calhoun (1975-2017), an American actress and comedian known for her work in films and television shows like "Cutting Shari" and "The Parkers."
Another notable figure was Nakesha Williams (born 1978), a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the Detroit Shock and the Indiana Fever.
In the field of music, Nakesha Winningham (born 1986) is a contemporary R&B singer and songwriter who has released several acclaimed albums and singles.
Nakesha Lowe (born 1989) is a British fashion designer and entrepreneur who has gained recognition for her sustainable and ethical clothing line.
Lastly, Nakesha Thompkins (born 1992) is a renowned American poet and spoken word artist whose work explores themes of identity, social justice, and personal empowerment.
While the name Nakesha has its roots in ancient Africa, it has transcended cultural boundaries and has been embraced by people from various backgrounds and ethnicities around the world.
People
Nakesha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nakesha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nakesha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nakesha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 981 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nakesha 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 349,393 US residents.
Is Nakesha a common name?
We classify Nakesha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,050 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nakesha most popular?
The single biggest year for Nakesha was 1979, when 87 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nakesha is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nakesha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nakesha 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.