Timaka
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "of the wilderness".
Name Census estimates that about 36 living Americans carry the first name Timaka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Timaka today is around 49 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Timaka births was 1977 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Timaka. 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 Timaka. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
36
~ 1 in 9,520,954 Americans
Peak year
1977
10 babies that year
Average age
49
years old
1981 SSA rank
#12,056
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Timaka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Timaka 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 34 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
Timaka 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 Timaka 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 Timaka
The name Timaka finds its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, which was prominent in the Indian subcontinent during the Iron Age, around the 1st millennium BCE. Scholars believe that the name is derived from the Sanskrit word "tīmaka," which translates to "bitter" or "pungent." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a plant or spice known for its sharp, intense flavor.
Timaka is also thought to have connections with the ancient Vedic texts, particularly the Rigveda, one of the oldest extant scriptures of Hinduism. Although the name itself is not explicitly mentioned in these sacred texts, it is believed to have been in use during the Vedic period, which spanned from approximately 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Timaka can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this renowned literary work, Timaka is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandava prince, Arjuna, during the great Kurukshetra war. This historical reference suggests that the name was in use among the warrior classes of ancient India.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Timaka. One such individual was Timaka, a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 3rd century BCE. He is credited with contributing to the development of ancient Greek mathematics and is believed to have written treatises on geometry and astronomy.
Another prominent figure with the name Timaka was a Sanskrit scholar and grammarian who lived in the 6th century CE. He is known for his influential work, the "Timaka Vyakarana," which explored the intricate rules and grammar of the Sanskrit language.
In the realm of Indian mythology, Timaka was also the name of a powerful rakshasa (demon) who was said to have fought against the Hindu god, Indra. This mythological reference further underscores the ancient roots of the name and its association with strength and valor.
During the medieval period, Timaka was the name of a renowned warrior and military commander who served under the Chola Dynasty in southern India. He is said to have played a crucial role in the expansion of the Chola Empire and is celebrated for his bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield.
It is worth noting that while the name Timaka has ancient origins and historical significance, its usage has been relatively rare throughout the centuries. However, it continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of names that have shaped the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Timaka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Timaka 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
Timaka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Timaka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 36 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Timaka 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 9,520,954 US residents.
Is Timaka a common name?
We classify Timaka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 49.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 39 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Timaka most popular?
The single biggest year for Timaka was 1977, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Timaka 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 Timaka in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Timaka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Timaka 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 Timaka still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Timaka 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 Timaka 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 have Timaka as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Timaka on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.