Akeelah
Every Akeelah since 1989 — 1,533 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.