Holding steady.
Popularity of Chaka since 1968
Babies named Chaka per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 17 |
| 1970s | 519 | 176 |
| 1980s | 308 | 29 |
| 1990s | 14 | 29 |
| 2000s | 0 | 11 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Chaka is a rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1974. It has never ranked among the top 1000 names, with its peak usage occurring in 1976. The name has remained stable in its rarity, never achieving widespread popularity. Chaka is most famously associated with the singer Chaka Khan, who brought visibility to the name in the 1970s. Despite this, it has not seen a significant increase in usage. The name's top state usage is not recorded due to its low frequency. Chaka remains a distinctive choice with African roots, evoking the powerful legacy of the Zulu king Shaka.
The name Chaka is likely derived from the Zulu language, possibly as a variant of Shaka, the name of the famous 19th-century Zulu king. It may also be a shortened form of names like Chakabunga. In the United States, it gained recognition through singer Chaka Khan, born Yvette Stevens, who adopted the stage name from the Zulu chief. The name has been used in African-American communities since the 1970s.
“Chaka” around the world
Where Chaka lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Shaka
Sibling names for Chaka
Names that share Chaka's style, for a brother or sister.
