What Does The Name Ketanji Mean?

The name ‘Ketanji’ translates to “lovely one” but represents so much more.

It is a unisex moniker used in the Hindu religion. The name has several meanings, such as “home”, “pure gold” and “dwelling.”

But, there is more to the judge’s name as it was chosen by her aunt.

As per Politico, Ketanji’s aunt, who was based in West Africa with the Peace Corps at the time of her birth, sent her parents a list of “African girls’ name options” and the judge’s parents picked the beautiful name that she goes by today.

She was named “Ketanji Onyika,” which means “Lovely One.”

Her parents named her Ketanji Onyika “to express both pride in their heritage and hope for future.”

Ketanji was born in Washington to two public-school teachers. Her family moved to Miami when she was still a child.

She graduated from Harvard College in 1992 and Harvard Law School in 1996.

Ketanji is married to surgeon Patrick Jackson with whom she shares two daughters.

She has served as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2021.

She was nominated to be an associated justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in February 2022 following Stephen Breyer’s retirement.