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.
- #9,506 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 702
- born since 1962
- 1970s
- peak 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.
- #9,506 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 702 born since 1962
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Makeba ranks #9,506 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 702 born since 1962, peaking in the 1970s.
- #9,506 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 702
- born since 1962
- 1970s
- peak decade
Makeba's 702 recorded births place it above 86.85% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
7 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by New York.
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 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
1970s is the heaviest window (396 births, 56% of the file).
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 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% |
122 of 702 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Makeba? ▼
Where does Makeba sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Makeba most popular? ▼
Where is Makeba most popular? ▼
How long has the name Makeba been used? ▼
What names are similar to Makeba? ▼
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
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
Compare Makeba side by side: Makeba vs Makayla Makeba vs Makenzie Makeba vs Makenna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Makeba: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1972)
Similar record span (~41 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.