Given name & surname · also African
Makena
“one who is filled with happiness”·“man of abundance”
Makena is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is filled with happiness” (African) and “man of abundance” (Hawaiian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is filled with happiness” (African) and “man of abundance” (Hawaiian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with African and Hawaiian naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1984. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Makena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,652
- 84 boys · 6,568 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 381 babies
- 2025
- 63
- #2,740 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −43%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 63 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,740 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 43.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 381 in 2005. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,774 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Makena’s family of names
Makena has a related form in Makenah. Makena has a related form in Mackena. Makena has a related form in Mackenah.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Makenahvariant
- Mackenavariant
- Makynavariant
- Makeenavariant
- Mackenahvariant
- Makynahvariant
- Makeanahvariant
- Makeanavariant
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Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Makena
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Makena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Abena
“born on a Tuesday”
>99% girls
Mehana
“a warm and friendly woman”
>99% girls
Maha
“a woman with beautiful eyes”
>99% girls
Adanna
“her father's daughter; a father's pride”
>99% girls
Kawena
“the” · “glow”
7% boys · 93% girls
Mahina
“daughter of the moonlight”
>99% girls
Makamae
“precious”
>99% girls
Maliyah
Maliyah is a feminine given name, probably from Hawaiian.
>99% girls