Holding steady.
Popularity of Rakisha since 1975
Babies named Rakisha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 39 |
| 1980s | 107 |
| 1990s | 27 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Rakisha is a rare modern name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1975, part of a wave of creatively constructed names that gained popularity in the late 20th century. Its highest recorded usage came in 1981, the peak year for the name, though it never entered the national top 1,000. The name's trajectory has remained stable over time, with very few annual births. The absence of a clear etymology or historical precedent places it among the group of modern American coinages, often built around fashionable phonetic elements. Like many names of this style, it is almost exclusively given to girls. Without a specific documented meaning, the name's appeal rests on its sound and cultural resonance within the communities that use it.
Rakisha first appears in U.S. birth records in 1975, during a period when invented names ending in -isha were fashionable, particularly among African American communities. It may be a blend of the popular prefix Ra- (as in Rachel, Raquel, or Rakeem) with the suffix -isha (derived from Aisha or Alicia). No pre-modern historical or linguistic derivation has been identified.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Rakisha
Names that share Rakisha's style, for a brother or sister.
