Lekisha

Meaning & origin

Lekisha first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1971, emerging during a period of creative naming within African American communities. The name combines the fashionable prefix La- with Keisha, a name that may trace back to the Hebrew Keziah, though the connection is speculative. It reached its highest usage in 1980, its peak year, after which it gradually declined. Despite never ranking in the top 1,000, Lekisha has maintained a stable presence, reflecting its enduring but niche appeal. The name's trajectory shows it as a product of its era, the 1980s, yet it continues to be used. No top states were recorded for Lekisha, indicating its sparse distribution across the country.

Lekisha emerged in the United States during the 1970s, part of a trend of African American invented names using the popular prefixes La- and Sha- combined with established names like Keisha. The name Keisha may ultimately derive from Keziah, a Hebrew name meaning 'cassia tree' (a type of cinnamon), though the linkage is uncertain. Lekisha never entered widespread usage but saw its peak in 1980, reflecting its peak during the era of such coinages.