Total births
2,459
Girls' name · since 1971
Nakisha
2,459 babies named Nakisha in U.S. Social Security records since 1971, with the highest year being 1978. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 2,459
- total births
- 1971–2012
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
Nakisha is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 2,459 have been recorded since 1971.
Social Security Administration records show Nakisha recorded 2,459 times among girls since 1971, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2012.
- 2,459 total births
- 1971–2012 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 44% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,459 girls have been named Nakisha since 1971, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2012.
- 2,459
- total births
- 1971–2012
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Nakisha was born in this single decade.
1978
Single peak year
203 babies were named Nakisha in 1978 - its busiest year on record.
Nakisha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nakisha's SSA record in two at 1990 and the more recent half accounts for 15% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 85%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2009, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1978 peak of 203, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nakisha at a glance
Last recorded 2012Peak year
1978
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1971
Nakisha popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2012
- Peak year (1978)
- 203
- Annual births at peak, across 42 years of records
Nakisha by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Nakisha's strongest decade.
1,074 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Nakisha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
1,074 births
- 1980s
1980s
1,018 births
- 1990s 282
1990s
282 births
- 2000s 75
2000s
75 births
- 2010s 10
2010s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 1,074 births (44% of all-time use).
How Nakisha 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 Nakisha's total volume
Nakisha vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Nakisha by state
Where Nakisha concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 136 | 5.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 123 | 5.0% |
| #3 | California | | 116 | 4.7% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 111 | 4.5% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 103 | 4.2% |
| #6 | Florida | | 102 | 4.1% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 100 | 4.1% |
| #8 | Pennsylvania | | 88 | 3.6% |
New York share of Nakisha's total US births 5.5%
Even split
136 of 2,459 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 25 reporting states.
Nakisha appears in 25 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nakisha? ▼
Since 1971, Social Security records show 2,459 babies named Nakisha. The most recent recorded year was 2012. Its busiest year on record was 1978, with 203 births.
When was Nakisha most popular? ▼
Nakisha was most popular in the 1970s decade with 1,074 total births. The single peak year was 1978.
Where is Nakisha most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nakisha are New York (136 births), Texas (123 births), California (116 births).
How long has the name Nakisha been used? ▼
Nakisha has been recorded in Social Security data since 1971, spanning 42 years of data through 2012.
What names are similar to Nakisha? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nakia, Nakita, Nakayla, Nakiya, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Nakisha's data
- Nakisha's decade-level peak was the 1970s (1,074 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Nakishas (136 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 Nakisha
Nearby Names Like Nakisha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nakisha
Nakia Girl
#7700 8,738 births
Nakita Girl
#15598 2,990 births
Nakayla Girl
#9801 1,825 births
Nakiya Girl
#5662 1,797 births
Nakeisha Girl
1,403 births
Compare Nakisha side by side: Nakisha vs Nakia Nakisha vs Nakita Nakisha vs Nakayla
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Elisheva #2369
2,459 births · Peak 2025
Carlota #2799
2,460 births · Peak 2023
Kerrigan #4061
2,460 births · Peak 2012
Jamiah #4503
2,460 births · Peak 2003
Merna #11154
2,461 births · Peak 1930
Kaycie #4227
2,462 births · Peak 2000
Jazzmine
2,462 births · Peak 1993
Johna #15500
2,456 births · Peak 1963
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1971–2012 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nakisha: Baby Name Since 1971 - 2,459 Births, Peak 1978." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nakisha. 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 Nakisha 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 June 2026.