Lowanda
A feminine name possibly derived from a French surname meaning "wanderer or traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 299 living Americans carry the first name Lowanda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lowanda today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lowanda births was 1971 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lowanda. 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
299
~ 1 in 1,146,336 Americans
Peak year
1971
20 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1981 SSA rank
#9,825
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Lowanda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lowanda from the 1920s through to the 1980s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 128 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
Lowanda 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 Lowanda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lowandas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Lowanda
The name Lowanda is believed to have its origins in the Choctaw language, spoken by the Choctaw people indigenous to the Southeastern United States. The name is thought to be derived from the Choctaw words "lowa," meaning "to watch" or "to guard," and "anda," meaning "among." Thus, the name Lowanda may have initially referred to a guardian or protector among the Choctaw people.
The earliest recorded use of the name Lowanda dates back to the late 18th century, when it appeared in records of the Choctaw Nation in what is now the state of Mississippi. During this time, the Choctaw people were engaged in complex negotiations and conflicts with European settlers and the emerging United States government over land rights and sovereignty.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Lowanda was a Choctaw woman born around 1780. She was a respected member of her community and played a role in preserving Choctaw culture and traditions during a period of upheaval and displacement for her people.
In the 19th century, the name Lowanda gained some recognition beyond the Choctaw Nation. Lowanda Polk (1832-1905) was a Choctaw educator and activist who worked to establish schools and advocate for the rights of Native American children. Her efforts helped pave the way for the development of the modern Choctaw Nation school system.
Another notable figure was Lowanda Cuolee (1856-1948), a Choctaw artist and craftsperson renowned for her intricate beadwork and textile designs. Her creations were exhibited at several world's fairs and helped promote awareness of Choctaw cultural traditions.
In the early 20th century, Lowanda Frye (1902-1987) was a Choctaw writer and journalist who documented the history and experiences of her people through her published works. Her writing helped preserve valuable narratives and perspectives on Choctaw life during a time of rapid social change.
More recently, Lowanda Ingram (1944-2022) was a respected Choctaw elder and language preservationist. She dedicated her life to teaching and promoting the Choctaw language, ensuring its survival and transmission to younger generations.
Although not as widely used today as it once was among the Choctaw people, the name Lowanda stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Choctaw Nation. Its meaning and history reflect the importance of guardianship, protection, and the preservation of traditions in the face of adversity.
People
Lowanda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lowanda 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
Lowanda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lowanda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 299 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lowanda 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 1,146,336 US residents.
Is Lowanda a common name?
We classify Lowanda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 457 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lowanda most popular?
The single biggest year for Lowanda was 1971, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lowanda is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lowanda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lowanda 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.