Makeba: 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	99	10	–	#2,238
1970s	396	40	+300%	#1,511
1980s	120	12	-70%	#3,678
1990s	77	8	-36%	#6,521
2000s	10	1	-87%	#17,103
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

#2,238

1970s

396

+300%

#1,511

1980s

120

-70%

#3,678

1990s

-36%

#6,521

2000s

-87%

#17,103

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Makeba

Makeba is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1962, 702 American babies have been named Makeba. Its peak came in 1972, when 63 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Makeba stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Makeba?

The median living Makeba is about 50 years old; half are between 44 and 54. An estimated 700 people named Makeba 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.

Makeba year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	5	#17,363
2002	5	#17,103
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	8	#10,148
1990	11	#7,648
1985	11	#6,290
1980	22	#3,678
1975	37	#2,261
1970	49	#1,815
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Makeba?

The median living Makeba is about 50 years old. Half of all living Makebas are between 44 and 54 years old.

How many people named Makeba are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Makeba are alive in the United States, based on 702 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Makeba in 2025?

Makeba did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Makeba?

702 babies have been named Makeba in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Makeba most popular?

Makeba peaked in 1972, when 63 newborns received the name.

Is Makeba a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Makeba rising or falling?

Makeba has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Makeba

Makeba popularity over time

The story of Makeba

How old are people named Makeba?

Makeba year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Makeba