Nkem
Nkem is a unisex given name found among the Igbo people of Nigeria. It is a short form of either Nkemdilim/Nkemdirim, Nkemjika, Nkemakolam or Nkemakonam and means "mine" or "my own."
Meaning & Origin of Nkem
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nkem is a unisex given name found among the Igbo people of Nigeria. It is a short form of either Nkemdilim/Nkemdirim, Nkemjika, Nkemakolam or Nkemakonam and means "mine" or "my own."
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nkem
Nkem first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1979, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1979, when 5 Nkems were born — ranking #10,208 that year. As of 2026, Nkem ranks #10,208 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Nkems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Nkem
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Nkem Akaraiwe (born 1996), Nigerian basketball player
- Dora Nkem Akunyili (1954–2014), Nigerian federal minister
- Nkem Ezurike (born 1992), Canadian soccer player
- Nkem Nwankwo (1936–2001), Nigerian novelist and poet
- Nkem Ojougboh (born 1987), Nigerian basketball player
- Nkem Okeke , Nigerian economist
- Nkem Okotcha (born 1977), Nigerian writer, editor and publisher
- Nkem Owoh (born 1958), Nigerian actor and comedian
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Nkem
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nkem 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 Nkem
What does the name Nkem mean?
How popular is Nkem in 2026?
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About the name Nkem
Nkem is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Nkem's peak popularity came in 1979 when it ranked #10,208. Use the chart and map above to compare Nkem's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1979 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.