Akeelah: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	7	1	–	#9,696
1990s	19	2	+171%	#9,830
2000s	942	94	+4858%	#708
2010s	436	44	-54%	#2,094
2020s (to 2025)	129	22	-51%	#4,839

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

#9,696

1990s

+171%

#9,830

2000s

942

+4858%

#708

2010s

436

-54%

#2,094

2020s (to 2025)

129

-51%

#4,839

The story of Akeelah

Akeelah is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,146 in 2025 with 15 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1989, 1,533 American babies have been named Akeelah. Its peak came in 2006, when 403 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Akeelah stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Akeelah?

The median living Akeelah is about 17 years old; half are between 13 and 19. An estimated 1,500 people named Akeelah are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Akeelah year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	15	#7,146
2024	21	#5,804
2023	20	#5,974
2022	24	#5,317
2021	27	#4,839
2020	22	#5,492
2019	30	#4,549
2018	39	#3,790
2017	31	#4,481
2016	34	#4,254
2015	37	#3,992
2014	34	#4,271
2013	40	#3,783
2012	39	#3,917
2011	58	#2,945
2010	94	#2,094
2009	124	#1,758
2008	160	#1,469
2007	249	#1,054
2006	403	#708
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	6	#13,642
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	5	#13,440
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Akeelah, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Akeelah?

The median living Akeelah is about 17 years old. Half of all living Akeelahs are between 13 and 19 years old.

How many people named Akeelah are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Akeelah are alive in the United States, based on 1,533 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Akeelah in 2025?

Akeelah ranked #7,146 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 15 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Akeelah?

1,533 babies have been named Akeelah in the United States since 1989, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Akeelah most popular?

Akeelah peaked in 2006, when 403 newborns received the name.

Is Akeelah a boy or girl name?

Akeelah is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Akeelah rising or falling?

Akeelah is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Akeelah

Akeelah popularity over time

The story of Akeelah

How old are people named Akeelah?

Akeelah year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Akeelah