Latest revision: October 1, 2023
This pancocojams post provides some examples of distinctive African American female names that begin with "La".
By "distinctive names", i mean first names that aren't usually given to African Americans or any other people in the United States.
For the purpose of this post, I've listed all of the female names for African Americans that begin with "La" in the books or online sources that are given in this post whether I consider those names to be distinctive or not.
Some names that are given in the lists that are included in this post may be much less distinctive now (in 2023 when this 2017 post is being updated), meaning they are names that African Americans-if not other populations in the United States-are familiar with even if they may not be commonly given to African American females (if not to other females in this country)..Other names on these lists are still seldom given to African American girls.
I choose to use the word "distinctive" rather than "different". The word "unique" may also be used as an adjective for many of these names.
The content of this post is presented for onomastics and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
By "distinctive names", i mean first names that aren't usually given to African Americans or any other people in the United States.
For the purpose of this post, I've listed all of the female names for African Americans that begin with "La" in the books or online sources that are given in this post whether I consider those names to be distinctive or not.
Some names that are given in the lists that are included in this post may be much less distinctive now (in 2023 when this 2017 post is being updated), meaning they are names that African Americans-if not other populations in the United States-are familiar with even if they may not be commonly given to African American females (if not to other females in this country)..Other names on these lists are still seldom given to African American girls.
I choose to use the word "distinctive" rather than "different". The word "unique" may also be used as an adjective for many of these names.
The content of this post is presented for onomastics and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
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
(I haven't updated that 2017 post yet, but will probably do so. I'll then re-publish it and replace that old link with a new one.
****
LISTS OF DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN GIVEN FEMALE NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "LA"
Pancocojams Editor:
Except for this first quoted source, these lists are given in no particular order. These lists are numbered for referencing purposes only.
My notes about these sources and/or about specific names within the quoted lists are given in italics. All other content in this post is quoted from those sources. except for my notes that are given after the word "snip",
It's important to emphasize that 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.
Some of these names are found in more than one of these lists.
EXCERPT #1 -selected examples
from Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names For Your African-American Baby, Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd, editor (Avon Books, 1994)
This book uses the research of African American sociologist Newport Niles Puckett as her primary source and adds other sources including names of notable African Americans in history, names of some people attending historically Black colleges and universities, names of people in African American print media etc
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 Washington, 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.]
****
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
-snip-
*Click https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/niles-newbell-puckett/ for information about the African American sociologist Newport Niles Puckett
**In the context of this list, "free black names" means names given to or selected Black Americans who weren't enslaved
*** a variant form of 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"
-snip-
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.
****
EXCERPT #2 selected examples from Behind The Name: Names Letter L (female names)
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
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-real-sources-of-female-name-keisha.html The REAL Sources Of The Female Name "Keisha"
I've never come across the name "Laphonza" before. I searched online, but didn't find anyone with that name besides Laphonza Butler.
I wonder if this name is a variant form of the male name Alphonso. That name used to be relatively common when I was growing up in the 1950s, but it is much less common now.
****
If you know any additional names that begin with the letter La names of African American females, please share them in the comment section of this post. Thanks!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/some-distinctive-african-american-male.html
(I haven't updated that 2017 post yet, but will probably do so. I'll then re-publish it and replace that old link with a new one.
****
LISTS OF DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN GIVEN FEMALE NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "LA"
Pancocojams Editor:
Except for this first quoted source, these lists are given in no particular order. These lists are numbered for referencing purposes only.
My notes about these sources and/or about specific names within the quoted lists are given in italics. All other content in this post is quoted from those sources. except for my notes that are given after the word "snip",
It's important to emphasize that 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.
Some of these names are found in more than one of these lists.
EXCERPT #1 -selected examples
from Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names For Your African-American Baby, Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd, editor (Avon Books, 1994)
This book uses the research of African American sociologist Newport Niles Puckett as her primary source and adds other sources including names of notable African Americans in history, names of some people attending historically Black colleges and universities, names of people in African American print media etc
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 Washington, 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.]
****
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
-snip-
*Click https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/niles-newbell-puckett/ for information about the African American sociologist Newport Niles Puckett
**In the context of this list, "free black names" means names given to or selected Black Americans who weren't enslaved
*** a variant form of 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"
-snip-
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.
****
EXCERPT #2 selected examples from Behind The Name: Names Letter L (female names)
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
-snip-
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".
****
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 Baby Names: UK/African American names [female[
Lacrasha; La-Shonna
****
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 Baby Names: UK/African American names [female[
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;
-snip-
Notice that some of these female names that are variants of the name "Sean" ("Shawn", "Shon", "Shaun") that don't end in "a" are actually unisex names since they are also used as male names. Also, names that end in the suffix "von" without an "a" at the end are also unisex names.
The only African American female and male names on that website's page for names beginning with "L" are the names "Lavon" and "Lavonne".
Also, notice that this list of African American names beginning with "La" is an incomplete sample of names beginning with that prefix. 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...
****
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] Top Baby Names Search; Black Baby Girl Names
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
****
EXCERPT #5 [This is the complete list of the La names that are found on that page. These names are listed without their meanings which are also given on that page.]
https://www.haimom.com/african-american-names/african-american-baby-girl-names-starting-with-l.html hair mom African American baby girl names starting with L [retrieved on 10/2/2023]
Laini
Lama
Lamas
Lamya
Lanelle
Laqueta
Laquinta
Latanya
Lateefa
Latifa
Latisha
Latoya
Laya
****
EXCERPT #6
https://parenting.firstcry.com/baby-names/girl/origin/african-american/starting-with/l/
First cry Baby names girl: African Americans starting with L [This is the complete list of La names that are found on that page without the name meanings that are also given.
These names beginning with "La" aren't given in alphabetical order on that page and are listed here in the order that they are found on that page.].
from the list of "African American Baby Girl Names Starting with L"
Lashona;
-snip-
Notice that some of these female names that are variants of the name "Sean" ("Shawn", "Shon", "Shaun") that don't end in "a" are actually unisex names since they are also used as male names. Also, names that end in the suffix "von" without an "a" at the end are also unisex names.
The only African American female and male names on that website's page for names beginning with "L" are the names "Lavon" and "Lavonne".
Also, notice that this list of African American names beginning with "La" is an incomplete sample of names beginning with that prefix. 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...
****
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] Top Baby Names Search; Black Baby Girl Names
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
****
EXCERPT #5 [This is the complete list of the La names that are found on that page. These names are listed without their meanings which are also given on that page.]
https://www.haimom.com/african-american-names/african-american-baby-girl-names-starting-with-l.html hair mom African American baby girl names starting with L [retrieved on 10/2/2023]
Laini
Lama
Lamas
Lamya
Lanelle
Laqueta
Laquinta
Latanya
Lateefa
Latifa
Latisha
Latoya
Laya
****
EXCERPT #6
https://parenting.firstcry.com/baby-names/girl/origin/african-american/starting-with/l/
First cry Baby names girl: African Americans starting with L [This is the complete list of La names that are found on that page without the name meanings that are also given.
These names beginning with "La" aren't given in alphabetical order on that page and are listed here in the order that they are found on that page.].
from the list of "African American Baby Girl Names Starting with L"
Lakshita
Lavanya
Laaibah
Lavya
Lakshmi
Lashika
Lakshitha
Laksha
Lala
Lakshana
Laxmi
Layla
Lavika
Laila
Laya
Laasya
Lathika
Latika
Lasya
Lasritha
Laurel
Lara
Lakhi
Lalita
Laasya
Lakshika
Lavik
Lawaiza
Laura
Layina
Labhdi
Lavina
Lani
Lakshmika
Lahari
Laasyavi
Laina
Laiqa
Laiqa
Larissa
Lana
Layana
Lamiah
Lavenia
Lawan
Lan
Latha
Laine
Lamai
Lapis
Lanika
Layan
Layaan
Lavanthika
Labani
Lamya
Laela
Lawana
Lamia
Landry
Lavleen
Lahana
Lata
Lainey
Laticia
Laney
Lakshaki
Larina
Laharika
Laashya
****
Here's a distinctive African American female name that begins with "La" hat isn't on any of these lists that I've quoted in this pancocojams post -Laphonza
This is the first name of the African American woman (full name Laphonza Butler). who the Governor of California just appointed to finish the term of the United States Senator Dianne Feinstein who recently died. That Senate term ends after the general election in California on December 2024.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsom-dianne-feinstein-replacement-laphonza-butler_n_65171514e4b
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsom-dianne-feinstein-replacement-laphonza-butler_n_65171514e4b
I've never come across the name "Laphonza" before. I searched online, but didn't find anyone with that name besides Laphonza Butler.
I wonder if this name is a variant form of the male name Alphonso. That name used to be relatively common when I was growing up in the 1950s, but it is much less common now.
****
If you know any additional names that begin with the letter La names of African American females, please share them in the comment section of this post. Thanks!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
[I wrote parts of this comment for the pancocojams post about "some distinctive African American male names that begin with "La"]
ReplyDeleteI used Google search to see if I could find any names beginning with "L" and "La" in particular in certain traditional African languages. Here are my results:
Swahili - no names beginning with "La" (male or female)
https://jlalablog.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/african-congolese-names-or-zairian-names.pdf
Lingala [language spoken in the Congo]
No female names beginning with La
6 female or male/female names beginning with L
http://www.nairaland.com/1506134/lists-yoruba-names-english-meaning
no names beginning with “L” [on the] "LISTS OF YORUBA NAMES AND THEIR ENGLISH MEANING".
http://maternitynest.com/nigerian-baby-names-igbo-names-girls/
“Lotachukwu [variants] Lota, Lotachi Remember God
Lotanna [variants] Lota, Nna Remember the father/God”
-snip-
These names are unisex (i.e. They can be given to males or females].
http://www.afropedea.org/akan-names List of Akan (Twi, Asante) Names
No Akan names beginning with L
-snip-
However, there are lots of Yoruba names that either begin with or end with the element "ola".*
Given that many people of Yoruba descent were enslaved in the United States, the Caribbean, and South America, and given how much Yoruba culture has influenced the cultures of the Americans and the Caribbean, perhaps the "ola" name element is one of the reasons why the "lah" sound appears to be so popular among African Americans.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/yoruba-nigerian-names-with-ola-prefix.html for a pancocojams post about the "ola" prefix and suffix in Yoruba names.
There's really no way to know if the Yoruba (Nigeria, West Africa) name element "ola" is the reason for what is a long held Black American preference for the "lah" sound as a prefix in given (first and middle) names.
DeleteBut, given that the Yoruba prefix "ola" means "honor or wealth", putting that prefix before a name could have been a coded way for oppressed people to call into being their best hopes and wishes for their children who embodied those names.
Dr. Farooq Kperogi is the author of a February 13, 2017 Daily Trust [Nigerian] newspaper column entitled "Nigerian and African Muslim Personal Names Among the Gullah of Georgia and South Carolina". http://allafrica.com/stories/201602151888.htmlM
ReplyDeleteThat column includes a few examples of African personal names that African American linguist Lorenzo Dow Turner found among the Gullah people in the United States in the 1930s.
Some of those names may help explain why African Americans seem to have a preference for the "La" prefix in personal names for females and males.
Here are some excerpts from that article which I reprinted in this pancocojams post: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/reprinted-nigerian-newspaper-column.html*
"Among the hundreds of Yoruba names Turner recorded among the Gullah people in the 1930s are names like ... Alafia [ "Alafia" is an Arabic-derived word; see Arabized African names below], Alabo, Alade, Alawo....Otunla,...."
[...]
He [Lorenzo Dow Turner] also recorded names like.... Lafiya ( derived from the Arabic word for good health, which is borne as a royal name among the Borgu people in Nigeria and Benin Republic, and as an everyday personal name in Senegambia and other historically Muslim polities in West Africa; Laila; Laraba, a Hausa name given to a girl born on Wednesday, derived from al-arbi'aa', the Arabic word for Wednesday ....
They also bear the names of West African ethnic groups as personal names, indicating the ethnic origins of some of the Gullah people. They bear names like Fulani, Fulbe, Fula (which refer to the same people)... according to Turner's records"...
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* That pancocojams post also includes information about Gullah people in the United States, information about Dr. Lorenzo Dow Turner, and information about Dr. Farooq Kperogi.
I have a copy of the book The African Heritage Of American English, editors Joseph E. Holloway and Winifred K. Vass (Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 1993) which is based on Dr. Lorenzo Dow Turner’s 1949 book Africanisms In The Gullah dialect. I intend to compile some of those names and feature them in a future pancocojams post or posts.
An African American female with an "La" prefix also made the news on November 19, 2017:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.yahoo.com/news/m/e2a94740-14cb-3fa9-b4a3-2159041b8078/ss_latoya-cantrell-becomes-new.html
"LaToya Cantrell becomes New Orleans' first female mayor
Los Angeles Times November 19, 2017
"LaToya Cantrell, a City Council member who first gained a political following as she worked to help her hard-hit neighborhood recover from Hurricane Katrina, won a historic election Saturday that made her the first female mayor of New Orleans."
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Also, note on the same day that an African American male with an "La" prefix name also made the news:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/19/sports/lavar-ball-trump.html Trump Blasts LaVar Ball: ‘I Should Have Left Them in Jail!’
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For more information and comments about La Var Ball, read the comment section of the companion pancocojams post about Distinctive African American Names That Begin With "La". That post's link is given above.
I just happened upon this portion of an article entitled "Our Evolving Black American Naming Traditions"
ReplyDeleteby Elisabeth Pearson Waugaman Ph.D., Mar 01, 2015
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/whats-in-name/201503/our-evolving-black-american-naming-traditions
"Because of the vibrant Creole culture in Louisiana, there is also a French influence in some African-American names. This includes not only French surnames but also given names beginning with “La,” (e.g. Lawanda), “De” (e.g. Deandre’) and with the use of apostrophes (e.g. Andre’, Mich’ele), that represent accents that were not yet available on American typewriters at the time.
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I hadn't considered the influence of French Creole culture on the use of "La" and "De" prefixes in African American names. That certainly may be a factor in the use of those prefixes among African Americans.
However, I believe that the use of apostrophes (or hyphens) in African American names has to do with the way the name looks and not at all with how the name is pronounced.
In France. When you put 'la' in front of a name it's disrespecful. Not polite.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that information, Unknown.
DeleteI didn't know that. I assume you are talking about personal names.
That's interesting because my guess is that one of the major influences on the African American custom of adding "La" (pronounced "lah") to personal names is the name "Lafayette", the last name of the French man who served in the American Revolutionary War in support of the American colonist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_Marquis_de_Lafayette.
My guess that Lafayette's title "Marquis" also influenced African American preference for that word being used as a personal name.