Boy · #1,062 in 2026

Makoa

The Makoa are an ethnic group in Madagascar descended from enslaved people from mainland Africa that were traded through the major slave trading ports of northern Mozambique in an area mainly populated by the Makua people. They are among the last African diaspora communities in the world to issue from the slave trade.

Current Rank
#1,062
Peak Rank
#1,062 (2026)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
+210%
1992
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1062
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
35
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Makoa

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

The Makoa are an ethnic group in Madagascar descended from enslaved people from mainland Africa that were traded through the major slave trading ports of northern Mozambique in an area mainly populated by the Makua people. They are among the last African diaspora communities in the world to issue from the slave trade.

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

Origin & history
Distribution of Malagasy ethnic groups. The Makoa are classified with the Sakalava. Slave trading was a major source of wealth for Malagasy kings since at least the 16th century, when the first people from Mozambique arrived in the western part of Madagascar. They were not slaves, but rather migrants relocating to Madagascar to escape the slave trading that was then ravaging the eastern coast of Africa. The largest slave trading ports in Mozambique were located in the north, an area traditionally populated by the Makua people, and while not all the slaves exported from these ports were Makua,

The Story of Makoa

Makoa first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1992, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 207 Makoas were born — ranking #1,062 that year. As of 2026, Makoa ranks #1,062 for baby boys with 207 births, rising sharply (+210% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Makoas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Makoa

Phonetically similar names — useful when Makoa 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 Makoa

What does the name Makoa mean?
The Makoa are an ethnic group in Madagascar descended from enslaved people from mainland Africa that were traded through the major slave trading ports of northern Mozambique in an area mainly populated by the Makua people. They are among the last African diaspora communities in the world to issue from the slave trade.
How popular is Makoa in 2026?
In 2026, Makoa ranks #1,062 among boys' names in the U.S., with 207 babies given the name that year.
When was Makoa most popular?
Makoa reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,062 that year with 207 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Makoa most popular?
Makoa has historically been most popular in Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Makoa.
Is Makoa a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Makoa is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Makoa?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Makoa include Lem, Orlo, Lyam. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Lem
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👦
Orlo
Peak #1063
👦
Lyam
Peak #1061
👦
Fairbanks
Peak #1064
👦
Gates
Peak #1064
👦
Cleophus
Peak #1064
👦
Rockey
Peak #1064
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Donavin
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About the name Makoa

Makoa is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1992 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Makoa's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,062. Use the chart and map above to compare Makoa'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.