Fun Facts About the Name Okema
- 71 babies named Okema: U.S. records list 71 babies given the name Okema from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Okema Mean?
Okema is a rare given name, used mostly in the United States, and its meaning is not settled. It is generally treated as a variant spelling of Okemah, a name from the Native American languages of the central United States and best known from the Oklahoma town named for a Kickapoo chief. Accounts of that name give two different explanations: a traditional gloss of "high water" or "up high," and a derivation from the Algonquian root okima, "chief," which appears in Kickapoo and in related languages such as Ojibwe (ogimaa). Neither explanation is firmly documented for the spelling Okema, and the resemblance to Okemah may be only a matter of spelling.
Okema Name History & Origins
Okema is uncommon as a given name and also appears as a surname, chiefly in the United States. The name is most often connected with the Oklahoma place name Okemah, which was named for the Kickapoo chief Okemah in the early twentieth century; the personal-name spelling drops the final h. Whether Okema developed from that chief's name or the town's name, or arose separately, is not established.
How Popular is the Name Okema?
Okema has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1975. Its best rank was #1,953 in 1975.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | #8,692 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #9,373 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #8,886 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #1,953 | 46 | 0.0032% |
| 1973 | #8,113 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with O
Short Girl Names That Start with O
How the Name Okema Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Okema's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Okema's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.