Some Distinctive African American Male Names That Begin With "La"

Edited by Azizi Powell

[Revised October 11, 2017]

This pancocojams post provides some examples of distinctive African American male names that begin with "La".

The content of this post is presented for onomastics and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those are quoted in this post.
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The idea for this post came to me after reading about four members of the United States military-Sgt. La David Johnson (African American), Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright (White Americans)- who were killed in an ambush on October 4, 2017 in Niger, West Africa.
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Tongo_Tongo_ambush for information about that ambush. RIP to all who lost their lives in that tragedy.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/some-distinctive-african-american.html for the companion pancocojams post "Some Distinctive African American Male Names That Begin With "La"

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE (Revised January 14, 2018)
African Americans are known to have a larger name pool than most population groups within the United States. Distinctive African American names include names that aren't commonly given in the United States. These names may be from traditional African languages, or from Arabic, or from other languages throughout the world, including certain names from European languages and from Hebrew which aren't that familiar in the United States. Distinctive African American names are also names that are newly created using a number of different strategies. Among these naming strategies are
-respelling an already existing name so that it more closely fits how it is pronounced

-adding a certain prefix or a certain suffix to an already existing name or to a spelling variant of an existing name, or to a relatively newly coined name. For example, the prefix "La" is mostly, but not only added to certain female names, the prefix "De" is mostly but not always added to certain male names, the suffix "isha" is only added to female names, and the suffix "ious" is only added to male names.

-using capital letter for the first letter that occurs after a prefix

-adding an apostrophe or a hyphen to a name

-combining parts of two names (usually the names of the child's parents) to create the child's name

My interest in what I refer to as "distinctive" African American given names (meaning "first and middle names") was sparked when I received my "African free name"* "Azizi" in 1968. "African free names" is a term that afrocentric African Americans used in the late 1960s and 1970s to refer to traditional African or Arabic given names (or less often, to African or Arabic first names and last names) that were either chosen by individuals or given to individuals by other people. "Free names" replaced the European/Hebrew birth names which were called "slave names".

"Azizi" is a Swahili form of the Arabic female name "Aziza". In part because of Swahili's close relationship with Arabic, that East African and Central African language was the first traditional African languages that African Americans used as a source for our names and our children's names. Thanks to the availability of published books on African names in the 1970s, more African Americans began choosing given names from Akan, from Yoruba, Zulu, and from certain other traditional African languages.

In my admittedly informal study of African American names, I've noticed that there appears to be certain sound preferences among many African Americans that aren't usually shared by other people in the United States.* Among those sound preferences are given names that begin with the prefix "La" (pronounced "lah"). There are many more female African American names with the prefix "La", but, as this post shows, there are also a number of male names that begin with that prefix. It seems to me that "being unique" was (and still is to perhaps a somewhat lesser extent) when many African Americans (and some other Americans had) were (are) deciding on given names for their newborns. And I've also noticed that for some African Americans since the 1970s, the way that a name is written is almost as important as how the name was pronounced.

A name could be spelled "the regular way" or spelled differently to more closely conform to the way it sounds. The first letter in the second syllable could be capitalized and/or an apostrophe or hyphen could separate the first syllable from the second syllable. Less often, the name could include an accent mark. And, as the first excerpt given below, the African American custom of conferring distinctive given names began centuries before the late 1960s and 1970s, although that custom appears to have increased since the late 1960s and on. And it's important to note that some distinctive African American originated personal names are more common (among African Americans) than other distinctive African American originated personal names. Also, some people who aren't Black have names that are African American originated or which are most popular among African Americans.

*Some Mormans living in Utah and Idaho have certain naming practices that are similar to African Americans. For example, some distinctive Morman names begin with "La", some names are created by combining two already existing names, and a number of given names include an apostrophe. However, Morman originated are usually different from African American originated “La” names because the "base" names (the names before the prefix or apostraphe) are often unfamiliar to African Americans.

Read my speculation below in the comment section about why I think the "la" prefix is one of the foremost sound preferences among African Americans.
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*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-i-got-my-african-name.html for the 2011 pancocojams post entitled "How I Got My African Name".

** Of course, all names were "made up" at one time or another.

Read my speculation below in the comment section about why I think the "la" prefix for females and males is one of the foremost sound preferences among African Americans.
-snip-
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-i-got-my-african-name.html for the 2011 pancocojams post entitled "How I Got My African Name".

** Of course, all names were "made up" at one time or another.

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LISTS OF DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN GIVEN MALE NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "LA"
Pancocojams Editor Notes:
To emphasize, these "distinctive African American male names" can also be given to males of other races or ethnicities (with "ethnicity". (In the United States referring to Latinos (Latinas)/Hispanics. Latinos (Latinas)/Hispanics can be of any race.)


Except for this first excerpt, these lists are given in no particular order. These lists are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1 [selected examples]
From Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names For Your African-American Baby editor Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd (Avon Books, 1994)
page 92
"La Quarius - newly created. This name is known among elementary school students in Detroit.

Labert - This name is another demonstration of the African American fondness for blending LA with a wide variety of endings that often make the new name a unique creation.

LaBron - also LeBron. Although used for several generations by black parents, these names smack of that African-American penchant for creating new sounds in naming their children. LeBron Simmons, a noteworthy atorney in Detroit during the 1950s and 1960s, was a staunch advocate for the poor and the underpriviledged.

[...]

Lafayette - Marquis de Lafayette, a French nobleman, joined Gen. Washington's army in 1777. His fame spread throughout the country, and his surname was often taken as a first name by free black and white parents. Rare in the 20th century.


Lamar French: Of the sea. Also Lemar. First used by black parents in the late 19th century. Lamar remains in

[page 93]

frequent use today. Lamar McGriggs played for the New York Giants football team.

[...]

Larnell - Apparently a recent African-American creation, only a few generations old. Also Larney.

[...]

[page 94

LaSalle French: the hall. NBA stalwart LaSalle Rhompson is an Indiana Pacer.

[...]

Laval - An African American original. Laval Perry is the CEO of All American Ford, Inc., the nation's 71st largest black-owned automobile dealership.

Lavar- An African-American original. Also Levar, Le Var, La Var. Popularized in the late 1970s when actor Le Var Burton played Kunte Kinte in the TV miniseries of Alex Haley's Roots.

Lavon - An African American original

Lawanza - Newly created. Lawanza Spears was a cum laude graduate of the class of 1993, Howard University."

[...]
From the chapter "Newly Created names for boys"
[page 217]
Laaris-------------Lajuan-------------Lapreece
Labar--------------Lakendric----------Laprell
Labarius-----------Lakendrick---------La Prese
LaBradford---------Lakim--------------Laquan
Labrando-----------Lakista------------Laquavis
Labrawn------------Lamarcus-----------Laquenton
Lacatron-----------La Mare------------Laquon
Ladall-------------Lamario------------La Ray
Ladaniel-----------Lamaris------------Larmar
Ladarian-----------Lamark ------------Larmel
LaDarrell----------Lamarque-----------Larmell
La Derek-----------Lamarr-------------La Rocque
Ladexter-----------Lameek-------------Larod
Ladrius------------Landell------------La Ron
Lafonzo------------LaNeil-------------Larome
La Jack------------Lanorris-----------Laron
Lajavon------------Lanue--------------Larrick
La Juan------------Laphonso-----------Lashajuan

[page 218]
Lashaud
La Shawn
Lashon
Lashwan
Lathaniel
Latrell
Lavall
Lavalle
La Vance
La Vaughn
Lavar
La Vaughn
Lavaughan
La Vell
La Vonte
Lavoris
La Waan
Lawanza
LaZelle
Laserick"

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From the chapter "African Names For Boys"

[...]
Lasana Central Africa:A poet of the people

[...]

Lateef = Arabic: Gentle, pleasant one

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EXCERPT #2
From https://www.behindthename.com/names/gender/masculine/usage/african-american
"LAMAR m English, African American
From a French and English surname, originally from a place name in Normandy, which was derived from Old French la mare meaning "the pool".
LASHAWN f & m African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name SHAWN.
LASHAY m African American (Rare)
Combination of the popular name prefix La and SHAY (1)."
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The only other "L" name on this list is "LEBRON m African American (Rare)
Meaning unknown, probably an invented name. This is the name of basketball player LeBron James (1984-)."

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EXCERPT #3
http://www.babynames.org.uk/african-american-names-list-l.htm
African American Baby Names Dictionary
"La-corey
La-Ron
Ladrus
Lamar
Lamark
Lamarr
Lamont
Lance
Laran
Larent
Larice
Larmar
Laron
Lasean
Lasil
Lason
Lathan
Latrell
Latrivis
Lavan
Lavaughan
Lavernus
Lavon
Lavonne"
-snip-
This list includes seventeen additional names. Nine of those names begin with the letters "Le".

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EXCERPT #4
From http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/black-baby-names-for-boys.html
[Pancocojams Editor: This website purports to list the top Black baby boy names. The numbers listed are the numbers that this site's editors have given for these names.]
"299 La Dorian
300 Labron"

http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/black-boys-names.html
"301 Ladarrell
302 Laelim
303 Lamarcus
304 Laquez
305 Latrelle"

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EXCERPT #5
[Note: Excerpts from thinkbabynames.com don't distinguish between which race or races or ethnic group (meaning Latino/Hispanic) uses or used these names]
From http://www.thinkbabynames.com/start/1/La
“La- baby names and what they mean with 77 results. La- names are used more often as feminine names. Usage of these boy names was at its apex in the 1940s ... and is now much less... with names like Laurence going out of style. The most fashionable birth names in this list are Lawson (#438), Langston (#691), Lachlan (#768), Lane (#296) and Layton (#544), while Lauer (TOP 2%) and Laws (2%) are conventional La- last names...

La-, var. Lavonte, Lavon, Lavell, Lavaughn, Lavante, Lavar, Laval, Latrell, Lashawn, Laroyce, Lasean, Laroy, Laron, Larenzo, Laray, Larell, Lamont, Lamario, Lamarcus, Lajon, Lamar, Ladell, Ladale
Root fr. American. .. Pronunciation emphasis is on the second .. Adoption of Laval and forms was more pronounced 45 years ago and has become diminished.

[...]

Lafayette
Derived fr. French. .. Historical. A moderately offbeat boys' name, Lafayette is found more frequently as a surname.

[...]

Lamar2, var. Lamarre, Lamarr
Based on Old French, Old German elements. "The water; land famous." Lamar was among 2015's Top names.

[....]

Lambert and variants
Lambert, var. Landbert, Lambirt, Lamberto, Lambart
Stems fr. Scandinavian. "Land brilliant." Usage of Landbert and forms was expansive during 1910-1919.

Lamont and variants
Lamont2, var. Lamonte, Lamond, Lammond
Root fr. Old Norse. "Law man." Lammond and Lamond are more rarefied as boys' names among the forms of Lamont.

Lamont and variants
Lamont2, var. Lamonte, Lamond, Lammond

Root fr. Old Norse. "Law man." Lammond and Lamond are more rarefied as boys' names among the forms of Lamont.

[...]

Lamar2, var. Lamarre, Lamarr
Based on Old French, Old German elements. "The water; land famous." Lamar was among 2015's Top names.

Lambert and variants
Lambert, var. Landbert, Lambirt, Lamberto, Lambart
Stems fr. Scandinavian. "Land brilliant." Usage of Landbert and forms was expansive during 1910-1919."

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From http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Larron
What does Larron mean?
"Larron

Pronunciation of Larron [lar-ron] as a boys' name. Modern name: possibly blend of Darron with L-, or a variant of Lawrence.

VARIANTS Laren, Larin, Laron, Larran, Larren, Larrin

RELATIONS VIA DARRON, LAWRENCE Daran, Daren, Darin, Daron, Darran, Darrin, Darryn, Daryn, Derren, Derrin, Derron, Laranz, Larenz, Larrance, Larrence, Larrens, Larrey, Larry, Lars, Lauren, Laurens, Laurent, Laurenz, Laurie, Lavrans, Lavrens, Lawrey, Lawrie, Lawry, Lon, Loren, Lorin, Lorrenz, Lorry"

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