Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Lakesha since 1967
Babies named Lakesha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 34 |
| 1970s | 3,887 |
| 1980s | 3,342 |
| 1990s | 787 |
| 2000s | 118 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lakesha emerged in the late 1960s as part of a wave of creative La- prefixed names popular in African American communities. The name first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1967, reflecting a broader cultural trend of distinctive coinages that combined familiar sounds with stylish prefixes. While its precise origins are unclear, Lakesha likely built on the popularity of Keisha, itself a respelling of Keziah. The name reached its peak year in 1978, when it ranked as high as 178. However, since 1985, its usage has declined steadily, and by the mid-1990s it had fallen out of the top 1000 names. Though never reaching the ubiquity of names like LaToya or Shanice, Lakesha remains a recognizable example of the inventive naming practices that flourished during the 1970s and 1980s.
Lakesha is a modern coinage that emerged in the United States during the late 1960s, formed by combining the fashionable prefix La- with the name Keisha. Keisha itself is a variant of Keziah, a biblical name of Hebrew origin meaning 'cassia tree'. The name Lakesha is part of a broader trend of La- prefixed names that peaked in popularity among African American communities in the 1970s and 1980s.
Where Lakesha is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kesha, Lala, Keke, Sha
Sibling names for Lakesha
Names that share Lakesha's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Tameka, Shanice, Latoya, Ebony, Jada, Tamesha, Ronisha, Kadesha, Lamesha, Lashondra, Latresha, Monesha, Shatoria, Damesha, Doneisha, Jalesia, Johnesha, Jonesha, Kimesha, Lacreshia, Lacrystal, Natesha, Quaneshia, Roneshia, Ronnesha, Shanisha, Tekia, Darneshia, Jakeisha, Jermesha, Kaleisha, Kyeshia, Lataja, Lateka, Nieshia, Temesha, Tieasha
