Lavonya
A feminine name likely derived from the French word for "wave".
Name Census estimates that about 227 living Americans carry the first name Lavonya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lavonya today is around 49 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lavonya births was 1973 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lavonya. 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.
People living today
227
~ 1 in 1,509,931 Americans
Peak year
1973
23 babies that year
Average age
49
years old
1992 SSA rank
#11,150
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Lavonya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lavonya from the 1960s through to the 1990s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 135 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lavonya 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 Lavonya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lavonya
The name Lavonya has its origins in the United States, specifically among African American communities in the early to mid-20th century. It is believed to be a blend of two French names, Lavonne and Sonya, creating a unique and melodic moniker.
While the exact origin and meaning behind the combination are not entirely clear, some sources suggest that it may have been derived from the French word "lavande," meaning lavender, signifying grace and beauty. The addition of the "ya" ending may have been influenced by other African American names of the time, such as Tonya or Sonya.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lavonya dates back to the late 19th century, when it appeared in census records in the southern United States. However, it gained more widespread popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.
Notable individuals who have borne the name Lavonya throughout history include Lavonya DeJean (born 1925), an American blues singer and songwriter known for her contributions to the Chicago blues scene. Another notable Lavonya was Lavonya Lenton (1928-2011), a civil rights activist and educator who worked tirelessly to promote equality and educational opportunities for African American students.
In the literary world, Lavonya Ferrell (born 1951) is a celebrated author and poet whose works explore themes of identity, culture, and the African American experience. Her poetry collection, "The Handmaid's Tale," received critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
The sports world has also seen its share of notable Lavonyas, including Lavonya Mallory (born 1972), a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for several seasons and was known for her defensive prowess on the court.
Lastly, Lavonya Bright (1948-2018) was a renowned jazz vocalist and educator who performed with some of the most prestigious jazz ensembles and taught at several prestigious music institutions, inspiring generations of aspiring musicians.
People
Lavonya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lavonya 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
Lavonya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lavonya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 227 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lavonya 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 1,509,931 US residents.
Is Lavonya a common name?
We classify Lavonya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 251 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lavonya most popular?
The single biggest year for Lavonya was 1973, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lavonya is about 49 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lavonya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lavonya 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.
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.