Makena
Meaninghappy one · Kikuyu
Makena is an African girl name meaning “happy one”, with Kikuyu roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Makena would score 12 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationMakena peaked in 2005, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Makena you'd meet today is about 20 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Makena would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 25,510 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMakena first shows up in US birth records in 1984, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 41 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Makenas? Head to Hawaii, where it's the #114 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1984–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Makena
Makena is a girl name of African origin meaning “happy one”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 2000s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
Other spellings of Makena
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Unisex name: Zuri · beautiful
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Girl name: Imani · faith
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Luisa · famous warrior
Questions about the name Makena
What does the name Makena mean?
Makena means “happy one” and comes from Kikuyu. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Asher (“happy, blessed”), Gwyneth (“blessed, happy”), Hania (“happy”) and Haniya (“happy, content”).
What is the origin of the name Makena?
Makena is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Kikuyu. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).
Is Makena a boy or girl name?
Makena is a girl name. In 2025, 63 US girls were named Makena.
How popular is the name Makena?
Makena ranked #2,719 for US girls in 2025, given to 63 babies. Its best year was 2005, when it reached #717. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,015 places.
What names are similar to Makena?
If you like Makena, you might also like Makenna, Mackenna, Makennah, Mackena and Asher. Makenna is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Makena?
Makena is an African girl name meaning “happy one”, with Kikuyu roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.