Total births
702
Girls' name · since 1962
Makeba
Since 1962, U.S. Social Security records show 702 babies named Makeba, peaking in 1972. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 702
- total births
- 1962–2003
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
Makeba is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 702 have been recorded since 1962.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Makeba has been recorded 702 times among girls since 1962, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1962 to 2003.
- 702 total births
- 1962–2003 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 56% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
702 girls have been named Makeba since 1962, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2003.
- 702
- total births
- 1962–2003
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
56% of everyone ever named Makeba was born in this single decade.
1972
Single peak year
63 babies were named Makeba in 1972 - its busiest year on record.
Makeba's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Makeba's full recorded timeline at 1981, 26% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 74% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1962, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1972 peak of 63 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Makeba at a glance
Last recorded 2003Peak year
1972
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1962
Makeba popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1962–2003
- Peak year (1972)
- 63
- Annual births at peak, across 42 years of records
Makeba by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Makeba's strongest decade.
396 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 56% of all-time use.
Makeba births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 99
1960s
99 births
- 1970s
1970s
396 births
- 1980s 120
1980s
120 births
- 1990s 77
1990s
77 births
- 2000s 10
2000s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 396 births (56% of all-time use).
How Makeba compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Makeba's total volume
Makeba vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Makeba by state
Where Makeba concentrates geographically, total births since 1962
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 122 | 17.4% |
| #2 | California | | 26 | 3.7% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 13 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 11 | 1.6% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 6 | 0.9% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #7 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.7% |
New York share of Makeba's total US births 17.4%
Even split
122 of 702 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Makeba? ▼
702 babies have been named Makeba since 1962. It was last recorded in 2003. The peak year was 1972 with 63 births.
When was Makeba most popular? ▼
Makeba was most popular in the 1970s decade with 396 total births. The single peak year was 1972.
Where is Makeba most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Makeba are New York (122 births), California (26 births), Illinois (13 births).
How long has the name Makeba been used? ▼
Records for Makeba go back to 1962, giving 42 years of history through 2003.
What names are similar to Makeba? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Makayla, Makenzie, Makenna, Makena, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Makeba's data
- Makeba's decade-level peak was the 1970s (396 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Makebas (122 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Makeba
Nearby Names Like Makeba
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Makeba
Makayla Girl
#542 108,030 births
Makenzie Girl
#638 45,023 births
Makenna Girl
#523 33,741 births
Makena Girl
#2023 6,568 births
Makaila Girl
#6738 4,747 births
Compare Makeba side by side: Makeba vs Makayla Makeba vs Makenzie Makeba vs Makenna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1962–2003 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Makeba: Baby Name Since 1962 - 702 Births, Peak 1972." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/makeba. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Makeba draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.