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Nneka

Girl name · African

Meaningmother is supreme · Igbo

Nneka is an African girl name meaning “mother is supreme”, with Igbo roots. Igbo names frequently express faith, gratitude or a family's feelings about a child's arrival. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • AnagramShuffle the letters of Nneka and you get Kenan and Kenna. Same letters, different names.
  • GenerationNneka peaked in 1972, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Nneka you'd meet today is about 53 years old.
  • HistoryNneka first shows up in US birth records in 1970, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 55 years since.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Nneka

US births per million girls, 1970–2025

015.531197020002020
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Nneka

Nneka is a girl name of African origin meaning “mother is supreme”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, 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 Nneka

Boy name: Neka

More African girl names

Questions about the name Nneka

What does the name Nneka mean?

Nneka means “mother is supreme” and comes from Igbo. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Paramjit (“supreme victory”) and Tolu (“God is supreme”).

What is the origin of the name Nneka?

Nneka is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Igbo. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).

Is Nneka a boy or girl name?

Nneka is a girl name.

How popular is the name Nneka?

Nneka is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2020. It peaked at #1,890 in 1972, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.

What names are similar to Nneka?

If you like Nneka, you might also like Neka, Paramjit and Tolu. Neka is another spelling of the same name.

What should I know before naming my baby Nneka?

Nneka is an African girl name meaning “mother is supreme”, with Igbo roots. Igbo names frequently express faith, gratitude or a family's feelings about a child's arrival. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.