Temaka
A Japanese name derived from the words "te" (hand) and "maki" (roll).
Name Census estimates that about 28 living Americans carry the first name Temaka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Temaka today is around 49 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Temaka births was 1977 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Temaka. 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 Temaka. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
28
~ 1 in 12,241,226 Americans
Peak year
1977
7 babies that year
Average age
49
years old
1982 SSA rank
#12,146
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Temaka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Temaka from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 26 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Temaka 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 Temaka 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 Temaka
The name Temaka originates from the ancient Polynesian language spoken by the indigenous people of the Marquesas Islands, a group of volcanic islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The name's earliest roots can be traced back to the 15th century, when the islands were first discovered and settled by Polynesian voyagers.
Temaka is derived from the Marquesan words "te" meaning "the" and "maka" meaning "rock" or "stone." In the Marquesan culture, rocks and stones held great significance as they were used for various purposes, including building structures, making tools, and serving as spiritual symbols.
The name Temaka was often bestowed upon individuals who were considered strong, resilient, and steadfast, much like the enduring nature of rocks. It was a name that carried connotations of durability, stability, and unwavering strength.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Temaka can be found in the oral traditions and chants of the Marquesan people, which were passed down through generations of storytellers and cultural practitioners.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Temaka:
1. Temaka Nui (c. 1680 - 1745), a revered Marquesan chief and warrior known for his leadership and military prowess during inter-island conflicts.
2. Temaka Hao (c. 1820 - 1895), a skilled navigator and explorer who led several voyages across the Pacific, establishing trade routes and cultural exchanges with other island nations.
3. Temaka Kaimoku (c. 1875 - 1935), a renowned woodcarver and artisan who created intricate and highly sought-after pieces that depicted Marquesan legends and cultural motifs.
4. Temaka Teihotuhoa (c. 1905 - 1980), a respected elder and oral historian who dedicated her life to preserving and passing down the stories, traditions, and language of the Marquesan people.
5. Temaka Tematavaka (c. 1950 - present), a contemporary artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Marquesas Islands.
While the name Temaka may have evolved and taken on various spellings and pronunciations over time, its essence remains rooted in the ancient Polynesian culture of the Marquesas Islands, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy and resilience of the people who once called these remote islands their home.
People
Temaka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Temaka 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
Temaka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Temaka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 28 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Temaka 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 12,241,226 US residents.
Is Temaka a common name?
We classify Temaka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 45.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 31 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Temaka most popular?
The single biggest year for Temaka was 1977, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Temaka is about 49 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 Temaka in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Temaka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Temaka 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 Temaka still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Temaka 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 Temaka 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 share the name Temaka?
Want to know how many people share the name Temaka? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.