Unisex · #9,692 in 2026

Ekene

Ekene is a unisex given name. Notable people with the name include:Ekene Abubakar Adams (1985–2024), Nigerian politician Ekene Ibekwe, American-Nigerian basketball player Ekene Ikenwa, Nigerian footballer Ekene Obi, Nigerian blogger and pharmacist Ekene Umenwa, Nigerian actress Ekene Okoli Nigerian CEO

Current Rank
#9,692
Peak Rank
#8,642 (2003)
Total Babies
26
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #13,843 (16 total)
👦 Boy peak #8,642 (26 total)
👦As Boy Name
2000
First Year
2017
Last Year
2003
Peak Year
#8642
Peak Rank
26
Total Count
4
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2002
First Year
2006
Last Year
2003
Peak Year
#13843
Peak Rank
16
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Ekene

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Ekene is a unisex given name. Notable people with the name include:Ekene Abubakar Adams (1985–2024), Nigerian politician Ekene Ibekwe, American-Nigerian basketball player Ekene Ikenwa, Nigerian footballer Ekene Obi, Nigerian blogger and pharmacist Ekene Umenwa, Nigerian actress Ekene Okoli Nigerian CEO

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Ekene

As a girl name

Ekene first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2002, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 6 Ekenes were born — ranking #13,843 that year. As of 2026, Ekene ranks #17,168 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 16 Ekenes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Ekene first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2000, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 7 Ekenes were born — ranking #8,642 that year. As of 2026, Ekene ranks #9,692 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 26 Ekenes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Ekene

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ekene is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ekene

What does the name Ekene mean?
Ekene is a unisex given name. Notable people with the name include:Ekene Abubakar Adams (1985–2024), Nigerian politician Ekene Ibekwe, American-Nigerian basketball player Ekene Ikenwa, Nigerian footballer Ekene Obi, Nigerian blogger and pharmacist Ekene Umenwa, Nigerian actress Ekene Okoli Nigerian CEO
How popular is Ekene in 2026?
In 2026, Ekene ranks #9,692 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Ekene most popular?
Ekene reached its peak popularity in 2003, ranking #8,642 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Ekene a unisex name?
Yes — Ekene is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 38% of Ekenes assigned female and 62% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Ekene?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ekene include Marky, Amond, Rashawd. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Ekene

Ekene is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2000 and has accumulated 26 births in the dataset. Ekene's peak popularity came in 2003 when it ranked #8,642. Use the chart and map above to compare Ekene's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.