Save Gender Feminine & Masculine Usage African American (Modern) Pronounced Pron. ni-KEE-ə [key] Meaning & History Combination of the phonetic elements nee, kee and ya, inspired by Nikki and Nakia. Like Nakia, Nikia saw a boost in its usage in the United States in 1974, thanks to the short-lived television police drama series 'Nakia,' which aired in that year.