Tasheka
A feminine name of African American origin meaning "she is respected".
Name Census estimates that about 382 living Americans carry the first name Tasheka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tasheka today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tasheka births was 1984 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tasheka. 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
382
~ 1 in 897,263 Americans
Peak year
1984
31 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2001 SSA rank
#15,161
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Tasheka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tasheka 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 186 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
Tasheka 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 Tasheka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tashekas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Tasheka, while North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 5 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tasheka
The name Tasheka is believed to have its origins in the Yoruba language spoken by the Yoruba people of West Africa, primarily in present-day Nigeria. The name is thought to be a combination of the Yoruba words "Ta," meaning "sweet," and "Sheka," meaning "pleasing" or "gentle."
Historically, the Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries, with a strong emphasis on oral traditions and storytelling. While the exact origin of the name Tasheka is uncertain, it is possible that it was derived from a mythical or legendary figure in Yoruba folklore or oral traditions.
There are no known ancient texts or religious scriptures that explicitly mention the name Tasheka. However, the Yoruba people have a deep-rooted spiritual belief system that incorporates elements of ancestor veneration, nature worship, and the concept of a Supreme Being known as "Olodumare."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Tasheka can be found in the records of the Atlantic slave trade, where it was likely brought to the Americas by enslaved Yoruba people from West Africa. However, specific details about individuals bearing the name during this period are scarce.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Tasheka, although their impact and significance may vary. Here are five examples:
1. Tasheka Mays (born in the late 20th century) is an American author and poet known for her works exploring themes of identity, culture, and personal growth.
2. Tasheka Terrelonge (born in the late 20th century) is a Jamaican-American Olympic track and field athlete who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
3. Tasheka Parkinson (born in the late 20th century) is a British actress and television personality known for her roles in various British soap operas and dramas.
4. Tasheka Boykin (born in the late 20th century) is an American entrepreneur and business owner, recognized for her work in promoting financial literacy and empowerment among women and marginalized communities.
5. Tasheka Johnson (born in the late 20th century) is an American artist and illustrator whose work has been featured in various exhibitions and publications, often exploring themes of identity and cultural representation.
While the name Tasheka may not be as widely recognized as some other names, it carries a rich cultural heritage and has been borne by individuals who have made contributions in various fields throughout history.
People
Tasheka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tasheka 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
Tasheka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tasheka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 382 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tasheka 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 897,263 US residents.
Is Tasheka a common name?
We classify Tasheka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 408 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tasheka most popular?
The single biggest year for Tasheka was 1984, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tasheka is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tasheka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tasheka 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.