Tokala
A Native American name meaning "fox" or "kitsune" in the Lakota language.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Tokala. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tokala today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tokala births was 2004 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tokala. 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 Tokala. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2004
5 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,124
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Tokala: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tokala from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tokala 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 Tokala 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 Tokala
The given name Tokala finds its origins in the Sioux Native American language, spoken by the Lakota and Dakota tribes of the Great Plains region of North America. The name is believed to have emerged around the 18th century, during a period of significant cultural exchange and interaction between various Native American tribes.
Tokala is derived from the Lakota word "tokala," which means "opposing" or "against." This name was often given to individuals who displayed a strong sense of resilience and the ability to overcome adversity or stand up against injustice. It was meant to encapsulate the courage and determination that was highly valued within these warrior societies.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tokala can be found in the oral traditions and stories passed down through generations of Lakota elders. These tales often featured brave warriors or leaders who embodied the spirit of the name, serving as inspirational figures for their people.
In the 19th century, during the era of westward expansion and conflicts between Native American tribes and American settlers, several notable individuals bearing the name Tokala emerged. One such figure was Tokala-Kin (meaning "Opposite Makers"), a Lakota warrior and leader who fiercely resisted the encroachment of settlers on his tribe's lands in the late 1800s.
Another historically significant bearer of the name was Tokala-Iyotake (1841-1929), also known as Sitting Bull, a renowned Hunkpapa Lakota leader who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. His defiance against the U.S. government's efforts to confine Native Americans to reservations made him an iconic figure in Native American history.
In more recent times, the name Tokala has been carried on by various individuals of Native American descent, serving as a connection to their cultural heritage and a reminder of the strength and resilience of their ancestors. For example, Tokala Clifford (1936-2008) was a prominent artist and sculptor from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, known for his works that celebrated and preserved the traditions of his people.
Additionally, Tokala Inajin (born 1970) is a contemporary Lakota performer and activist who has used her platform to advocate for Indigenous rights and promote cultural awareness. Her name, Tokala Inajin, translates to "Opposing Woman," reflecting the spirit of resistance and activism embodied by her name.
While the name Tokala may not be as widely known or used today as it once was, it remains a powerful symbol of the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Lakota and Dakota peoples, serving as a reminder of their enduring spirit in the face of adversity.
People
Tokala + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tokala 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
Tokala: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tokala?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tokala 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Tokala a common name?
We classify Tokala as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tokala most popular?
The single biggest year for Tokala was 2004, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tokala is about 13 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 Tokala in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tokala a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tokala in the SSA data are male. 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 Tokala still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tokala 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 Tokala 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 common is the name Tokala?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.