Tomeka
Primarily a girl's name of African American origin with 3,628 recorded births. Also given to 6 boys.
Meaning & Origin
When Tomeka hit its peak of 387 births in 1976, American naming was shifting away from mid-century classics toward more individualistic, expressive choices.
Today, Tomeka reads as a name tied to a specific era — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Tomeka is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Tomeka is a girl's and boy's baby name of African American origin, a variant of Tamika, a creative coinage that emerged in the late 1960s and 70s. The Tom- opening instead of Tam- gives it a slightly different character while maintaining the same warm, melodic three-syllable flow.
Tomeka represents the creative variation within the Tamika naming tradition, where families could choose their preferred spelling while still participating in a shared cultural vocabulary. It carries the warm distinctiveness of African American naming at its most inventive.
EtymologyShow more
Tomeka is built from 6 letters and three syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the African American naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Tomeka creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tomeka has 33+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1963.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 151 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 992 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 2,385 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 100 | — |
The Story of Tomeka
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1976, Tomeka is a Gen X staple. Girls named Tomeka are most likely born between 1966 and 1986.
How rare is Tomeka?
With 3,628 total births on record, Tomeka remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1963, peaked in the 1970s with 2,385 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tomeka by the numbers
- Would fill 76 school buses
- Meeting one Tomeka per day would take 9.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(33 years, 1963–1996)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 12 | #7543 |
| 1995 | 13 | #7013 |
| 1994 | 22 | #4681 |
| 1993 | 21 | #4818 |
| 1992 | 19 | #5257 |
| 1991 | 28 | #3814 |
| 1990 | 36 | #3151 |
| 1989 | 37 | #2983 |
| 1988 | 35 | #2982 |
| 1987 | 53 | #2094 |
| 1986 | 44 | #2340 |
| 1985 | 81 | #1522 |
| 1984 | 106 | #1232 |
| 1983 | 97 | #1277 |
| 1982 | 136 | #1063 |
| 1981 | 176 | #874 |
| 1980 | 227 | #734 |
| 1979 | 266 | #658 |
| 1978 | 292 | #586 |
| 1977 | 321 | #551 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tomeka as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Tomeka has also been given to 6 boys in the U.S. since 1974.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomeka a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tomeka most popular?
How popular is the name Tomeka?
Can Tomeka be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1963–1996