Total births
697
Unisex name · since 1970
Shaka
Shaka has 697 recorded births since 1970 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1987 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6933
- among boys today
- 697
- born since 1970
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 51%
- more common than other boys
Shaka currently ranks #6933 among unisex names in America, with 697 babies recorded since 1970.
Social Security Administration records show Shaka recorded 697 times among boys since 1970, holding rank #6933 nationally today, ahead of 51% of boys, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1970 to 2025.
- #6933 among boys today
- 697 born since 1970
- 1980s peak decade
- 51% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Shaka is currently the #6933 unisex name in America, more common than 51% of boys - 697 born since 1970, peaking in the 1980s.
- #6933
- among boys today
- 697
- born since 1970
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 51%
- more common than other boys
Shaka vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6933
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 51% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Shaka was born in this single decade.
1987
Single peak year
39 babies were named Shaka in 1987 - its busiest year on record.
How Shaka compares
697 Top 37% higher than 63% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Shaka's all-time total is 90% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Shaka | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 697 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 39 | 23 | 22,252 |
Shaka's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Shaka splits its recorded history at 1994: 37% of all births land in the more recent half, 63% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1970 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1987 peak of 39 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Shaka at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1987
Current rank
#6,933
Active since
1970
Shaka popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1970–2025
- Peak year (1987)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 56 years of records
Shaka popularity over time - girls
142 total births recorded since 1975 (Shaka as girls' name)
Shaka by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Shaka's strongest decade.
181 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Shaka births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
170 births
- 1980s
1980s
181 births
- 1990s
1990s
176 births
- 2000s 39
2000s
39 births
- 2010s 71
2010s
71 births
- 2020s 60
2020s
60 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 181 births (26% of all-time use).
How Shaka compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Shaka's total volume
Shaka vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Shaka by state
Where Shaka concentrates geographically, total births since 1970
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 95 | 13.6% |
| #2 | California | | 35 | 5.0% |
New York share of Shaka's total US births 13.6%
Even split
95 of 697 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shaka? ▼
Since 1970, Social Security records show 697 babies named Shaka. Today it holds rank #6933 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1987, with 39 births.
When was Shaka most popular? ▼
Shaka was most popular in the 1980s decade with 181 total births. The single peak year was 1987.
Where is Shaka most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shaka are New York (95 births), California (35 births).
Is Shaka a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shaka is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 697 births, and as a girl's name it has 142 births.
How long has the name Shaka been used? ▼
Shaka has been recorded in Social Security data since 1970, spanning 56 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Shaka? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Shawn, Shane, Shaun, Shannon, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Shaka's data
- Shaka's decade-level peak was the 1980s (181 total births); usage has since declined to 60 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Shakas (95 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 Shaka
Nearby Names Like Shaka
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shaka
Shawn Boy
#637 306,542 births
Shane Boy
#601 192,583 births
Shaun Boy
#1567 70,481 births
Shannon Boy
#2597 52,379 births
Shayne Boy
#4006 10,741 births
Compare Shaka side by side: Shaka vs Shawn Shaka vs Shane Shaka vs Shaun
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Shaka
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, 1970–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shaka: #6933 Unisex Name - 697 Births, Peak 1987." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shaka. 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 Shaka 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.