Find out how popular the first name Nekisha has been for the last 25 years (from 1974 to 1998) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nekisha by gender

Based on the last 25 years of data, Nekisha is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1998, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nekisha.

The history of the first name Nekisha

The name Nekisha has its origins in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically the Yoruba language spoken in parts of modern-day Nigeria. It is derived from the Yoruba words "eniyan" meaning "human being" and "Kisha" meaning "honored" or "respected." The combination of these words suggests that the name Nekisha carries the meaning of "honored human being" or "respected person."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Nekisha can be traced back to the 16th century when the transatlantic slave trade brought many Yoruba people to the Americas. It is believed that during this period, some enslaved Africans chose to adopt or were given names that reflected their cultural heritage, including names with Yoruba origins like Nekisha.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Nekisha was Nekisha Ibitayo, a Yoruba woman who was born in the late 17th century and later brought to the British colonies in the Caribbean as an enslaved person. Ibitayo is reported to have been a prominent figure in the Jamaican Maroon community, which was composed of formerly enslaved Africans who had escaped and established independent settlements.

In the 19th century, the name Nekisha gained some recognition through the life of Nekisha Akinwande, a Yoruba woman who was born in 1821 in present-day Nigeria. Akinwande was a renowned storyteller and oral historian, known for preserving and passing down the rich cultural traditions and histories of the Yoruba people.

Another notable figure with the name Nekisha was Nekisha Ogunleye, a Nigerian artist and sculptor who lived from 1910 to 1985. Ogunleye's works celebrated the beauty and diversity of African art and helped to promote and preserve traditional Yoruba artistic styles.

In more recent history, Nekisha Cooper, an American civil rights activist and educator, gained recognition for her work in advocating for equal opportunities and social justice. Born in 1942, Cooper dedicated her life to empowering underprivileged communities and promoting educational equity.

While the name Nekisha has its origins in the Yoruba culture of West Africa, it has since been adopted and used by people of various ethnicities and backgrounds around the world, reflecting the rich diversity of cultures and the global spread of names and their meanings.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nekisha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nekisha, please contact us.

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