Makena
Girl name · #2738 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Makena? In official American birth records, Makena has been tracked continuously since 1984, giving it 41 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 63 baby girls were named Makena, placing it at #2738 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1126, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,571 girls born in 2025 was named Makena.
Babies named Makena per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 41-year story
Makena first appears in the Social Security records in 1984, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 381 girls were named Makena — good for #717 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Makena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Makena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Makena is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Makena will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Makena is most common
State-level data for Makena is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Makena
Statistically, parents drawn to Makena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Malena, Meena, Cianna, Mackenna, and Malina.
MalenaMeenaCiannaMackennaMalinaKalenaMiyanaIyanna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Makena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 | #2719 |
| 2024 | 97 | #2011 |
| 2023 | 115 | #1774 |
| 2022 | 108 | #1870 |
| 2021 | 115 | #1768 |
| 2020 | 119 | #1704 |
| 2019 | 150 | #1465 |
| 2018 | 178 | #1284 |
| 2017 | 207 | #1182 |
| 2016 | 224 | #1132 |
| 2015 | 226 | #1126 |
| 2014 | 201 | #1215 |
| 2013 | 252 | #994 |
| 2012 | 255 | #988 |
| 2011 | 236 | #1045 |
| 2010 | 294 | #899 |
| 2009 | 281 | #949 |
| 2008 | 323 | #863 |
| 2007 | 303 | #906 |
| 2006 | 341 | #804 |
| 2005 | 381 | #717 |
| 2004 | 297 | #831 |
| 2003 | 298 | #824 |
| 2002 | 306 | #774 |
| 2001 | 197 | #1076 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Makena?
In official American birth records, the name Makena first appeared in 1984 (over 41 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 41 years.
Is Makena a popular girl name?
Makena ranked #2738 among girls in 2025 with 63 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1126.
When was the name Makena most popular?
Makena peaked in 2005, when 381 American girls received the name (ranked #717 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Makena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,571 newborn American girls was named Makena. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.