Akeelah Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Akeelah is an African American name derived from the Swahili word for 'intelligent'. It has evolved through variants such as Akilah and Akeela. The name symbolizes traits of wisdom and smartness, gaining notable popularity from the film 'Akeelah and the Bee'. There is no biblical relevance associated with this name.
The name Akeelah is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Akeelah has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Akeelah' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 19733rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2427th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4625th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Akeelah' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Akeelah"
Pronunciation
/əˈkiːlə/
Origin
African American
Etymology
Akeelah is derived from the Swahili word 'akili', which means 'intelligent' or 'smart'. It is often associated with themes of wisdom and knowledge.
Meaning
intelligent, smart
Language Evolution
Akilah, Akeela, Akeelah
Historical Usage
The name Akeelah gained popularity in the early 2000s, particularly due to the film 'Akeelah and the Bee' released in 2006, which highlighted the character's intelligence and determination.
Variants & Derivatives
Akilah, Akeela, Kila
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Akeelah is perceived positively, often associated with intelligence, perseverance, and cultural pride.
Famous People
Akeelah Anderson (fictional character from 'Akeelah and the Bee')
Explore More Akeelah Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Akeelah"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Akeelah"
"Akeelah" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 19733rd of 27321 | 18 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2427th of 35406 | 1,141 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4625th of 30306 | 358 |
Regional Popularity of "Akeelah" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Akeelah" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
41.68% 1910th/4582 |
45.14% 2331st/5164 |
20.03% 1465th/7313 |
63.94% 4772nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 3984th/3984 |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
76.47% 5217th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Akeelah"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Akeelah" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.