Makeda is an Ethiopian name of Semitic origin, meaning "she who towers like a crown." It is derived from the ancient Ethiopian language, Ge'ez, and is often used in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and among Ethiopian communities worldwide. The name Makeda gained international recognition through the biblical character of the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon to test his wisdom with riddles. In some versions of this story, her name is given as Makeda or Maqueda. This association has contributed to the popularity of the name Makeda in various cultures.
The name Makeda experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a marked peak occurring in 1985 when there were 85 births. The trend appears to have been relatively stable until around the mid-1990s, after which it began to decline gradually. Despite this, the total number of births with the name Makeda from 1968 to 2023 reached a notable figure of 1731.