Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides some examples of distinctive African American female 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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This post serves as a companion to this pancocojams post about examples of distinctive African American males names that begin with "La": http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/some-distinctive-african-american-male.html
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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".
My name "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.
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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.
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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.)
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LISTS OF DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN GIVEN FEMALE NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "LA"
Pancocojams Editor:
Except for this first excerpt, these lists are given in no particular order. These lists are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Note: To emphasize, these "distinctive African American female names" can also be given to females of other races or ethnicities -with "ethnicity" in the United States referring to Latinos (Latinas)/Hispanics. Latinos (Latinas)/Hispanics can be of any race.
EXCERPT #1 [selected examples from that book]
From Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names For Your African-American Baby editor Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd (Avon Books, 1994)
page 310
La - Puckett* documents an early preference for the La phoneme in these names: La Blanche, La Dora, La Eunice, La Fay, La Jeune, La Perle, La Rossie, La Rue Forrest, La Tausca, La Vada, La Verne, La Zora.
Laetitia - A spelling variation of Letitia (see below) found among free black names**, 1800-64
Lahalia -This rhythmical use of La was noted in 1877-1937
page 311
Laney -This unusual given name is found among free black women during the 19th century
Lanieash- Lanieash Lloyd is a West Indian American who lives in Queens, N. Y.
Latia - Latia Curry of New York's Peter Stuyvesant High School is a track and field champion
Latiffah - An African American spelling variation of the Arabic Latifah, which connotes gentle kindness. Rap artist Queen Latifah has given this name new currency.
La Toya - Perhaps the controversial La Toya Jackson of th famed Jackson family can be credited with the proliferation of this name. The Diary of LaToya Hunter: My First Year in Junior High bu LaToya Hunter won this 12-year old a review in the pages of the New York Times.
Latrice*** - Latrice George was a 2003 recipient of a Project Excellence scholarship. Founded by Carl T. Rowan, the fund, during its sixth annual dinner honoring academic excellence, awarded 80 gifted black Washingon, D. C. area high school seniors scholarships totaling $1.3 million.
From the chapter "African Names For Girls" [These are all of the "La" names on this list.]
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page 398
Laini - Swahili: Sweet and gentle, soft, Laini "Muki" Brown is an aspiring record company executive.
Lama - Arabic: Darkness of lips
Lamis - Arabic; softness to the touch
Lateefah - Arabic: pleasant, gentle woman.
Lateefah - Arabic: Gentle, kind. Queen Latifah is a not always gentle rap artist.
Layla - Swahili: She was born at night.
The chapter "Newly Created Names For Girls" (pages 431-435) of this book lists more than 400 names that begin with the letters "la". Here are 25 names from that list which aren't found on the other lists that are given below are
Lachante
La Chelle
Lachelle
Lacheryl
Ladawn
La Kenya
La Kita
Lakita
La Quan
Laquana
LaRae
Lakresa
La Shanda
La Shante
La Sheena
La' Shona
Latrina
Latavis
Latarsha
Latricia
Lasheba
Lashelle
Lashirelle
Lastarr
Lawanza
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*Black Names in America: Origins and Usage – 1975
by Newbell Niles Puckett (Author), Murray Heller (Editor)
**In the context of this list, "free black names" means names given to or selected Black Americans who weren't enslaved
*** Regarding the female name "Latrice":
From http://rupaulsdragrace.wikia.com/wiki/Latrice_Royale
Latrice Royale is the stage name of drag performer Timothy Wilcots, best known for competing in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race.....
Date of Birth: February 12, 1972"
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Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul%27s_Drag_Race for information about and dates for this television series.
****Regarding the Arabic female names given in that list, the only Arabic female names beginning with "La" that I've come across (either directly or indirectly) are the names "Latifah" (also with variant spellings) and the name "Layla" (with variant spellings, particularly "Laila"). Both of these Arabic female names, but particularly "Layla" are quite frequently given to African American girls, regardless of their parents' religion.
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EXCERPT #2 [selected examples from that website page]
From https://www.behindthename.com/names/letter/l
LADONNA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name DONNA.
LAETITIA f Late Roman, French
Original form of LETITIA, as well as the French form.
LAKEISHA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name KEISHA.*
LAKESHIA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name KESHIA.
LAKISHA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name KISHA.
LAILA (1) f Arabic, English
Variant of LAYLA.
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).
LASHONDA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name SHONDA.
LATANYA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name TANYA.
LATASHA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name TASHA.
LATEEFAH f Arabic
Variant transcription of LATIFA.
LATIFA f Arabic
Feminine form of LATIF.
LATIFAH f Arabic
Feminine form of LATIF.
LATISHA f African American
Variant of LETITIA.
LATONYA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name TONYA.
LATOYA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name TOYA.
LAVONE f English (Rare)
Variant of LAVONNE.
LAVONNE f English
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name YVONNE.
LAWANDA f African American
Combination of the popular prefix La with the name WANDA.
LAYLA f Arabic, English
Means "night" in Arabic. This was the name of the object of romantic poems written by the 7th-century poet known as Qays. The story of Qays and Layla became a popular romance in medieval Arabia and Persia. The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song 'Layla' by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.
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*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-real-sources-of-female-name-keisha.html The REAL Sources Of The Female Name "Keisha" and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-racialization-of-female-name-keisha.html The Racialization Of The Female Name "Keisha" & Its Variants for two pancocojams posts about the female name "Kiesha".
Here's information about the Arabic male name "Latif" from www.behindthename.com/names/letter/l:
"LATIF m Arabic
Means "gentle, kind" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition اللطيف (al-Latif) is one of the 99 names of Allah."
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EXCERPT #3 [complete listing of "la" names for African American females from that site]
From http://www.babynames.org.uk/african-american-names-list-l.htm
Lacrasha--------- La-Shonna
Lacrecia--------- La-sondra
Lacresia--------- Lataesha
Lacricia--------- Latanna
Lacrishia ------- Latasia
Ladaishia-------- Lataya
La-Dale ----------Lateasia
Ladawn------------La-Teesha
Ladawnah----------Lateia
Ladona -----------Lateica
Ladonne ----------Laticia
La-fara-----------La-Ticia
LaJonel ----------Latitia
La-juana----------Latoiya
Lajuanna----------Latona
Lakasha ----------Latondra
Lakeitha ---------Latonia
LaKendria---------Latonna
Laketta ----------Latonya
La-Keysha --------Latore
Lakitia-----------Latoria
Lakresha ---------Latorray
Lakyta------------Latoya
Lamesha ----------Latreece
Lameshia----------Latreese
Lanecia ----------La-trice
La-Neesa----------Latrina
La-Neisha --------Latrisha
La-Neishah -------Lavern
Laqueinta --------Laverne
Laquenetta -------La-Verne
Laquetta ---------La-Von
Laquinda ---------Lavonn
Laquitta----------LaVonne
La'Rae -----------La'Wanda
Larah ------------La-wanda
Larhonda
La-rhonda
Lashane
Lashanna
Lashaune
Lashaunta
La'Shawn
Lashawna
Lashona
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Note that some of these female names that are variants of the name "Sean" ("Shawn", "Shon", "Shaun") and that don't end in "a" are actually unisex names as they are also used as male names. Also, names that end in the suffix "von" which don't end in "a" are also unisex names.
That said, the only African American female and male names on that website's names beginning with "l" page are the names "Lavon" and "Lavonne".
Also note that this list of African American names beginning with "La" is an incomplete sample. I know African American females with other names which aren't on that list, including an African American woman in her 50s or 60s who was given the birth name "Lavonda" and an African American female in her late 60s whose name is "La Rue." I also know an African American female in her late 60s who spells her name "Laquita" and not the similar spellings given above. I also know a
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EXCERPT #4 [complete listing of "la" names for "Black Baby Girl Names" from that site]
From http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/black-baby-girl-names.html [These numbers are given on that website]
324 Lacara
325 Ladell
326 Lafyette
327 Lakedra
328 Lakesia
329 Lalique
330 Landon
331 Laquita
332 Larieka
333 Larriel
334 Lashaya
335 Latavia
336 Latresia
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