Takenya
An invented name with no definite meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 270 living Americans carry the first name Takenya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Takenya today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Takenya births was 1978 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Takenya. 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
270
~ 1 in 1,269,461 Americans
Peak year
1978
20 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2006 SSA rank
#12,320
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Takenya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Takenya from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 91 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Takenya remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Takenya 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 Takenya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Takenya
The name Takenya is believed to have originated from the Yoruba people of West Africa. The Yoruba language is spoken primarily in southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo. The name is thought to be derived from the Yoruba word "takun," meaning "wealth" or "abundance."
In Yoruba culture, names often hold deep symbolic meaning and are chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents for their offspring. The name Takenya may have been bestowed upon children born during a time of prosperity or abundance, or as a way of invoking blessings of wealth and plenty upon the newborn.
While the name Takenya has its roots in West African culture, it has been adopted and used in various parts of the world throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the 17th-century English explorer and author, Richard Jobson. In his book "The Golden Trade," published in 1623, Jobson mentions encountering a Yoruba woman named Takenya during his travels in the region.
Another notable figure bearing the name Takenya was a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the Kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Benin) during the 18th century. Known for her shrewd business acumen and success in the lucrative slave trade, she amassed considerable wealth and influence, earning her the nickname "Takenya the Wealthy."
In the 19th century, a woman named Takenya Adeyemi gained recognition as a skilled weaver and textile artist in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her intricate and vibrant designs were highly sought after, and she passed on her craft to several generations of her family.
Moving into the 20th century, Takenya Okanlawon was a Nigerian educator and activist who dedicated her life to promoting girls' education and empowering women. Born in 1918, she founded several schools and established programs to support young women's access to education and vocational training.
More recently, Takenya Quashie was a prominent figure in the Jamaican reggae music scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Born in 1952, she was a singer and songwriter known for her powerful vocals and socially conscious lyrics, often addressing issues of social justice and black empowerment.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Takenya, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and eras.
People
Takenya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Takenya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Takenya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Takenya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 270 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Takenya 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 1,269,461 US residents.
Is Takenya a common name?
We classify Takenya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 286 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Takenya most popular?
The single biggest year for Takenya was 1978, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Takenya is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Takenya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Takenya 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.