Nakia
Nakia is an unisex given name of multiple origins and meanings. Arabic meaning: "pure". Not many baby naming sites point out other origins of the name. They also neglect to inform of any other pronunciation the name has.
Meaning & Origin of Nakia
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nakia is an unisex given name of multiple origins and meanings. Arabic meaning: "pure". Not many baby naming sites point out other origins of the name. They also neglect to inform of any other pronunciation the name has.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nakia
As a girl name
American parents first put Nakia on the record books as a girl name in 1973, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1974, when 1,135 Nakias were born — ranking #226 that year. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 41% of all recorded Nakias. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,405 among girl names with 18 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 9K Nakias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nakia first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1974, with 613 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1974: 613 births, good for #302 nationwide. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 69% of all recorded Nakias. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (8 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 2K Nakias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nakia
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nakia 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 Nakia
What does the name Nakia mean?
How popular is Nakia in 2026?
When was Nakia most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nakia most popular?
Is Nakia a unisex name?
What names go well with Nakia?
About the name Nakia
Nakia is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 9K births in the dataset. Nakia's peak popularity came in 1974 when it ranked #226. Use the chart and map above to compare Nakia's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1974 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.