Ladontay
A masculine name of American origin meaning "prospering leader".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ladontay. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ladontay today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ladontay births was 1994 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ladontay. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ladontay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1994
5 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
1994 SSA rank
#9,656
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Ladontay: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ladontay by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ladontay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ladontay
The name Ladontay has its origins in the African diaspora, emerging as a combination of two distinct cultural influences – the Yoruba language of West Africa and the French language. It is a relatively modern name, first appearing in the late 20th century.
The first part of the name, "Ladon," derives from the Yoruba word "Ladun," which means "to behold" or "to witness." This root has its roots in the rich cultural traditions of the Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The second part, "tay," is believed to be a nod to the French term "étaie," which translates to "support" or "prop up."
While the name itself does not appear in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its linguistic components carry deep symbolic meanings. The Yoruba concept of "Ladun" is often associated with the idea of bearing witness to life's experiences and learning from them. The French influence of "étaie" suggests a sense of strength and support, potentially reflecting the resilience of those who bore this name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ladontay can be traced back to the late 1970s in the United States. However, it gained wider recognition in the 1990s, particularly among African American communities.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Ladontay:
1. Ladontay Bell (born 1985) – An American professional basketball player who played for various teams in Europe and Asia.
2. Ladontay Johnson (born 1991) – An American football linebacker who played for the University of Southern Mississippi.
3. Ladontay Brooks (born 1987) – An American actor and filmmaker known for his work in independent productions.
4. Ladontay Davis (born 1993) – An American singer and songwriter who gained recognition through various talent competitions.
5. Ladontay Williams (born 1989) – An American writer and spoken word artist, known for his advocacy of social justice issues.
While the name Ladontay may be relatively new, its roots in African and French linguistic traditions provide a rich tapestry of cultural symbolism, representing the resilience and strength of those who carry it.
People
Ladontay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ladontay as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ladontay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ladontay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ladontay going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Ladontay a common name?
We classify Ladontay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ladontay most popular?
The single biggest year for Ladontay was 1994, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ladontay is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ladontay in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ladontay a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ladontay in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ladontay still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ladontay in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ladontay can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ladontay?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.