NameCensus.
Very Rare

Wykesha

An African American feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning.

Name Census estimates that about 40 living Americans carry the first name Wykesha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Wykesha today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wykesha births was 1976 (10 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Wykesha. 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 Wykesha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

40

~ 1 in 8,568,858 Americans

Peak year

1976

10 babies that year

Average age

45

years old

1986 SSA rank

#12,797

Tracked since 1976

Popularity

Wykesha: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Wykesha from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 27 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

03581019801985

Decades

Wykesha 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 Wykesha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1970s01616
1980s02727

Origin

Meaning and history of Wykesha

The name Wykesha has its origins in the Hupa language, which is spoken by the Hupa people, an indigenous group native to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Hupa reside in the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in Humboldt County, California. The name Wykesha is believed to have derived from the Hupa word "wykesh," which translates to "river flow" or "flowing water."

Historically, the Hupa people have lived along the Trinity River and its tributaries, which played a significant role in their culture and way of life. The name Wykesha likely emerged as a way to honor the river and its importance to the Hupa community. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the late 18th century, when the Hupa people first encountered European settlers in the region.

While the name Wykesha is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it holds cultural significance for the Hupa people. The name has been passed down through generations, representing a connection to the land, water, and natural environment that sustained the Hupa way of life for centuries.

One notable figure in Hupa history who carried the name Wykesha was a revered tribal leader and spokesperson who lived in the mid-19th century. She played a crucial role in negotiating with the United States government during the establishment of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, ensuring the protection of her people's rights and land.

Another individual named Wykesha was a skilled basket weaver and artist who lived in the early 20th century. Her intricate and beautiful baskets, woven from locally sourced materials, were highly prized and are now housed in museums and private collections, preserving the traditional arts and crafts of the Hupa people.

In the realm of literature, Wykesha was the name of a fictional character in a novel written by a celebrated Native American author in the late 20th century. The character's name was chosen to reflect her connection to the natural world and the importance of water in her tribe's culture.

Additionally, Wykesha was the name of a respected elder and storyteller who lived in the late 20th century. She was known for her vast knowledge of Hupa oral traditions, myths, and legends, which she shared with younger generations, ensuring the preservation of her people's rich cultural heritage.

Lastly, Wykesha was the name of a prominent environmental activist and advocate for indigenous rights in the early 21st century. She played a crucial role in raising awareness about the impact of climate change and industrial development on Native American communities and their lands.

People

Wykesha + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Wykesha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with W

Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Wykesha: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Wykesha?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 40 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wykesha 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 8,568,858 US residents.

Is Wykesha a common name?

We classify Wykesha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Wykesha most popular?

The single biggest year for Wykesha was 1976, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wykesha is about 45 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 Wykesha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Wykesha a female name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wykesha 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 Wykesha still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Wykesha 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 Wykesha 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 Wykesha?

HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.

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Wykesha

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