Shakeema
An Arabic feminine name meaning "gentle" or "gracious".
Name Census estimates that about 597 living Americans carry the first name Shakeema. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shakeema today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shakeema births was 1993 (47 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shakeema. 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
597
~ 1 in 574,128 Americans
Peak year
1993
47 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2005 SSA rank
#18,698
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Shakeema: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shakeema 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 287 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
Shakeema 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 Shakeema during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shakeemas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Shakeema, while South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 91 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shakeema
The name Shakeema has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots tracing back to the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries. Shakeema is derived from the Arabic word "shakima," which means "gracious" or "charming." The spelling variation "Shakeema" is a more modern adaptation of the original Arabic form.
While the name itself does not have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Arabic roots suggest it may have been used among Arabic-speaking communities during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of great cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievements in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shakeema can be found in historical records from the 17th century, where it was used by a notable family in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco. However, the specifics of this early usage are somewhat obscure due to the limited documentation from that era.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shakeema. In the 18th century, Shakeema bint Abdullah was a respected scholar and poet from the Arabian Peninsula. Her work focused on preserving and promoting Arabic literature and culture.
In the 19th century, Shakeema al-Misri was a prominent Egyptian feminist and advocate for women's education. She established one of the first schools for girls in Cairo and played a pivotal role in advancing educational opportunities for women in the region.
During the 20th century, Shakeema Abdalla was a Sudanese politician and activist who fought for women's rights and participated in the country's independence movement. She was involved in various political organizations and served as a member of the Sudanese parliament.
Another notable figure from the 20th century was Shakeema Khayat, a Syrian-born artist and sculptor known for her innovative use of materials and exploration of themes related to identity and cultural heritage. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.
In more recent times, Shakeema Pughsley was a Canadian basketball player who played professionally in several countries, including Canada, the United States, and Europe. She was a standout player at the collegiate level and represented Canada in international competitions.
The name Shakeema, with its rich Arabic heritage and historical connections, has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each leaving their mark on their respective fields and contributing to the cultural tapestry of their communities.
People
Shakeema + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shakeema as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shakeema: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shakeema?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 597 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shakeema 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 574,128 US residents.
Is Shakeema a common name?
We classify Shakeema as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 629 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shakeema most popular?
The single biggest year for Shakeema was 1993, when 47 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shakeema is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shakeema a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shakeema 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.