Lafondra
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the French words "la" and "fondre" meaning "the melter".
Name Census estimates that about 37 living Americans carry the first name Lafondra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lafondra today is around 61 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lafondra births was 1962 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lafondra. 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 Lafondra. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
37
~ 1 in 9,263,631 Americans
Peak year
1962
30 babies that year
Average age
61
years old
1979 SSA rank
#11,051
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Lafondra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lafondra from the 1960s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 40 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lafondra 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 Lafondra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lafondras live
Origin
Meaning and history of Lafondra
Lafondra is a given name with roots tracing back to the ancient Germanic tribes of central Europe, specifically the Franks who inhabited what is now modern-day France and parts of Germany. The name is derived from the Proto-Germanic words "laf" meaning "remnant" or "survivor" and "hund" meaning "hundred," suggesting a connection to a group or clan of survivors or a military unit.
The earliest recorded use of the name Lafondra dates back to the 6th century CE, during the reign of the Merovingian dynasty in the Frankish kingdom. It was often given to children born in times of conflict or hardship, symbolizing their resilience and perseverance. The name also carried connotations of strength, bravery, and a connection to one's ancestral roots.
One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name Lafondra was a Frankish warrior and chieftain who lived in the late 6th century. Historical records mention his role in leading a group of Frankish soldiers in battles against invading tribes, earning him a reputation for valor and leadership.
In the 9th century, Lafondra was the name of a celebrated poet and scholar in the court of Charlemagne, the ruler of the Carolingian Empire. Her poetic works, though largely lost to time, were praised for their eloquence and insight into the cultural and intellectual life of the era.
During the Crusades in the 12th century, a knight named Lafondra de Montfort gained recognition for his bravery and skill in battle. He participated in several campaigns in the Holy Land and was known for his unwavering commitment to the Christian cause.
In the 15th century, Lafondra Grimaldi was a prominent figure in the Republic of Genoa, serving as a diplomat and negotiator. She played a crucial role in brokering peace treaties and fostering trade relationships with neighboring city-states, earning her a reputation for her diplomatic acumen.
Finally, in the 17th century, Lafondra Dubois was a renowned French explorer and cartographer. She led several expeditions into unexplored regions of North America, contributing to the mapping and documentation of vast territories. Her detailed journals and maps were invaluable resources for future explorers and settlers.
People
Lafondra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lafondra 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
Lafondra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lafondra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 37 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lafondra 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 9,263,631 US residents.
Is Lafondra a common name?
We classify Lafondra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 49.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 45 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lafondra most popular?
The single biggest year for Lafondra was 1962, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lafondra is about 61 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 Lafondra in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lafondra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lafondra in the SSA data are female. 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 Lafondra still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lafondra 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 Lafondra 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 common is the name Lafondra?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Lafondra on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.