Tashema
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially meaning "beautiful flower".
Name Census estimates that about 238 living Americans carry the first name Tashema. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tashema today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tashema births was 1977 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tashema. 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
238
~ 1 in 1,440,144 Americans
Peak year
1977
18 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1996 SSA rank
#15,657
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Tashema: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tashema from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 107 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Tashema remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tashema 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 Tashema during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tashemas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Connecticut, Indiana recorded the most babies named Tashema, while Indiana, Connecticut, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tashema
The name Tashema is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its roots in various cultures and languages. Its origins can be traced back to the African continent, where it is believed to have emerged from the Bantu language family.
One interpretation suggests that Tashema is derived from the Swahili word "tashama," which means "to journey" or "to wander." This connection lends the name a sense of adventure and exploration, evoking images of nomadic tribes traversing vast landscapes. Another possible etymology links Tashema to the Yoruba language of West Africa, where it may be a variation of the name "Tashama," which signifies "she who brings happiness."
While the exact historical references for this name are scarce, some accounts suggest that it was borne by notable figures in ancient African societies. One such figure is Queen Tashema, a legendary ruler from the Kuba Kingdom of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo, who is said to have reigned in the 15th century. Her legacy is celebrated for her wisdom, diplomacy, and efforts to promote unity among her people.
As cultures merged and civilizations intermingled, the name Tashema found its way into various parts of the world, including the Americas and Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the annals of the Caribbean region, where a woman named Tashema was a prominent leader in the Jamaican Maroon community during the 18th century, known for her fierce resistance against colonial oppression.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Tashema. One such figure was Tashema Daniels (1908-1989), an African American educator and civil rights activist who dedicated her life to promoting equal educational opportunities for underprivileged children in the United States. Another remarkable Tashema was Tashema Sampson (1925-2003), a renowned Trinidadian dancer and choreographer who played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean through her art.
In the literary realm, Tashema Innis (1942-2020) was a celebrated Jamaican poet and author whose works explored themes of identity, diaspora, and the complexities of the human experience. Her powerful and evocative writing earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Musgrave Medal for Literature.
Additionally, the name Tashema has been associated with notable figures in the realms of science and technology. Tashema Jones (1963-present) is a pioneering African American engineer who has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace engineering, working on groundbreaking projects for NASA and other leading organizations.
These are just a few examples of the remarkable individuals who have borne the name Tashema throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and communities.
People
Tashema + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tashema 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
Tashema: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tashema?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 238 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tashema 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 1,440,144 US residents.
Is Tashema a common name?
We classify Tashema as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 255 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tashema most popular?
The single biggest year for Tashema was 1977, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tashema is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tashema a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tashema 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.