Neka

A girl's name of Native American origin with 155 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Neka is a two-syllable girl's name with a open, warm sound — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. With only 155 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.

Neka is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Neka is a girl's baby name of Native American origin, from the Algonquian or related languages, possibly meaning 'wild goose' — the goose being a symbol of determination, community, and the courage to undertake long journeys. In some traditions, the wild goose is also associated with the soul's journey.

Short, evocative Native American names like Neka carry the natural world's imagery directly into the name — a connection to the migratory patterns, communal strength, and navigational instinct of the goose that speaks across cultures.

EtymologyShow more

Neka is cataloged under the Native American naming tradition. Names from the Native American tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.

In the U.S., Neka has been recorded as a girl's name since 1973, with 155 total births. Browse the Native American names hub on this site to explore the broader family.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

155

Total births

Since 1973

1980

Peak year

12 births

Compare Neka with another name

Popularity Over Time

Neka has 21+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1973.

First appeared: 1973Peak: 1980 (12 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Neka
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	6	#16223	▼
1990s	36	#11588	▼
1980s	59	#9133	▲
1970s	54	#7437	—

The Story of Neka

A Gen X name

Peaking in 1980, Neka is a Gen X staple. Girls named Neka are most likely born between 1973 and 1990.

How rare is Neka?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Neka is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1973, peaked in the 1980s with 59 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Neka by the numbers

Would fill 3 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(21 years, 1973–2011)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Neka
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2011	6	#16223	0
1997	6	#13246	-1 (-14.3%)
1995	7	#11383	+2 (40.0%)
1994	5	#15038	-4 (-44.4%)
1992	9	#9271	0
1990	9	#9002	+4 (80.0%)
1988	5	#13228	-1 (-16.7%)
1986	6	#10463	0
1985	6	#10228	-1 (-14.3%)
1984	7	#8828	-1 (-12.5%)
1983	8	#7812	0
1982	8	#7977	+1 (14.3%)
1981	7	#8735	-5 (-41.7%)
1980	12	#5794	+1 (9.1%)
1979	11	#6033	+3 (37.5%)
1978	8	#7420	0
1977	8	#7343	+1 (14.3%)
1976	7	#7858	-1 (-12.5%)
1975	8	#6930	+2 (33.3%)
1974	6	#8383	0

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Neka a boy's or girl's name?

Neka is primarily a girl's name.

When was Neka most popular?

Neka reached its peak popularity in 1980 with 12 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Neka?

Neka is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 155 babies in the U.S. since 1973. Its peak was in 1980.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginNative American names By EndingNames in -a TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1973–2011