Nekisha
A girl's name of African origin with 411 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Nekisha is not in the current national top 1,000. In fact, it is among the rarest names in the SSA dataset — a choice that signals bold individuality.
With records spanning 1971 to 1998, Nekisha has a focused history that reflects a particular moment in naming culture rather than a centuries-old tradition.
Nekisha is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Nekisha is a girl's baby name of African origin, a variant of Keisha with the Ne- prefix, a name that emerged from African American naming traditions in the late twentieth century drawing on Swahili linguistic elements meaning 'alive' or 'living.'
Names in the Nekisha family reflect the vibrant creativity of African American naming culture, where prefix variations created distinctive new names while maintaining familiar sonic patterns. Nekisha has a flowing, three-syllable sound that carries warmth and cultural identity.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Nekisha is rooted in the African tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1971 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Nekisha’s rarity (411 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Nekisha has 24+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1971.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36 | #11543 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 175 | #5589 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 200 | #4411 | — |
The Story of Nekisha
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1978, Nekisha is a Gen X staple. Girls named Nekisha are most likely born between 1971 and 1988.
How rare is Nekisha?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Nekisha is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1971, peaked in the 1970s with 200 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Nekisha by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Nekisha per day would take 1.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(24 years, 1971–1998)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 6 | #13631 |
| 1993 | 6 | #12937 |
| 1992 | 6 | #12862 |
| 1991 | 8 | #9964 |
| 1990 | 10 | #8319 |
| 1989 | 7 | #10500 |
| 1988 | 11 | #6976 |
| 1987 | 14 | #5516 |
| 1986 | 7 | #9253 |
| 1985 | 19 | #4230 |
| 1984 | 13 | #5436 |
| 1983 | 19 | #4059 |
| 1982 | 18 | #4282 |
| 1981 | 27 | #3214 |
| 1980 | 40 | #2421 |
| 1979 | 35 | #2610 |
| 1978 | 40 | #2293 |
| 1977 | 27 | #2972 |
| 1976 | 30 | #2641 |
| 1975 | 21 | #3366 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nekisha a boy's or girl's name?
When was Nekisha most popular?
How popular is the name Nekisha?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–1998