Declining since 1993.
Popularity of Nneka since 1970
Babies named Nneka per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1992, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nneka's real moment was 1981.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 317 |
| 1980s | 306 |
| 1990s | 371 |
| 2000s | 130 |
| 2010s | 48 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Nneka, from the Igbo language of Nigeria, has a deeply maternal meaning: 'Mother is supreme.' Though it has never been common in the United States, the name first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1970 and reached its peak usage in 1981. Since then, its popularity has been falling, a trajectory that began around 1993. While no top states strongly cluster its use, Nneka remains a distinctive choice that honors Igbo heritage and the central role of mothers in Igbo culture.
Nneka is a feminine name from the Igbo language of Nigeria. It derives from the Igbo phrase "Nne ka" meaning "mother is supreme" or "mother is greater." The name has been used in Nigeria and among the Igbo diaspora, and gained modest visibility in the United States starting in the 1970s, particularly in the 1980s when it saw its peak usage.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nne, Neka, Kai
Sibling names for Nneka
Names that share Nneka's style, for a brother or sister.
