Okemia
A feminine name of aboriginal origin meaning "beaver dam".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Okemia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Okemia today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Okemia births was 1975 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Okemia. 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 Okemia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1975
9 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1975 SSA rank
#6,302
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Okemia: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Okemia 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 Okemia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 9 | 9 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Okemia
The name Okemia has its origins in the Choctaw language, spoken by the Native American tribe of the same name located in present-day Mississippi and Oklahoma. The Choctaw people trace their ancestry back to the Mississippian culture which flourished in the central and southern United States from around 800 to 1600 CE.
The etymology of Okemia is uncertain, but it is believed to be derived from the Choctaw words "okchi" meaning people or nation, and "immi" meaning to possess or have. Thus, the name may have originally meant "possessing a nation" or "having a people". It could have referred to a tribal leader or someone of importance within the Choctaw community.
There are no known historical references to the name Okemia in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it is possible that the name was used by the Choctaw people long before European contact and written records were kept.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Okemia was a Choctaw chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his diplomatic efforts in negotiating treaties with the United States government during the period of westward expansion.
Another notable figure was Okemia Kernell, a Choctaw artist and potter who was born in 1886 and lived until 1968. She was renowned for her intricate and beautifully crafted pottery, which helped preserve and promote Choctaw cultural traditions.
In the early 20th century, Okemia Yeager was a Choctaw activist and educator who worked tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for Native American children. She founded several schools and advocated for the preservation of indigenous languages and cultures.
During the mid-20th century, Okemia Sholola was a prominent Choctaw writer and journalist who documented the lives and experiences of her people. Her works provided valuable insights into Choctaw history and helped raise awareness of Native American issues.
More recently, Okemia Warrior was a Choctaw artist and musician who gained recognition for her vibrant paintings and traditional Choctaw songs. Born in 1947, she dedicated her life to celebrating and sharing her cultural heritage through her art.
While the name Okemia has its roots in the Choctaw language and culture, it has also been adopted by individuals from other backgrounds who may have been drawn to its unique sound or meaning. However, the name remains deeply connected to the Choctaw people and their rich history.
People
Okemia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Okemia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Okemia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Okemia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Okemia 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Okemia a common name?
We classify Okemia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 9 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Okemia most popular?
The single biggest year for Okemia was 1975, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Okemia is about 52 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 Okemia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Okemia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Okemia 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.
Is Okemia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Okemia 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 Okemia 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 the name Okemia?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.