Nashonda
A feminine name of uncertain meaning and origin.
Name Census estimates that about 70 living Americans carry the first name Nashonda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nashonda today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nashonda births was 1978 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nashonda. 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 Nashonda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
70
~ 1 in 4,896,491 Americans
Peak year
1978
10 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1988 SSA rank
#11,311
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Nashonda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nashonda from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 40 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nashonda 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 Nashonda 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 Nashonda
The name Nashonda is believed to have originated from the Yoruba language spoken in West Africa, particularly in present-day Nigeria. It is a relatively modern name, with its roots dating back to the late 20th century. The name itself is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Na" meaning "with" and "shonda" meaning "grace" or "beauty".
While the exact origin of the name is not well documented, it is speculated to have emerged as a unique name in the Yoruba community, potentially inspired by the cultural traditions and values that emphasize grace, elegance, and inner beauty. As the Yoruba diaspora spread across the world, the name Nashonda may have traveled with them, gaining popularity among various communities.
In terms of historical references, there are no known ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records that explicitly mention the name Nashonda. However, this does not diminish the cultural significance and meaning behind the name, as it reflects the rich heritage and linguistic diversity of the Yoruba people.
Some notable individuals who have carried the name Nashonda throughout history include:
1. Nashonda Bullock (born 1983), an American professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks.
2. Nashonda Pettway (born 1981), an American gospel singer and songwriter known for her soulful vocal style and inspirational compositions.
3. Nashonda Dillard-Reed (born 1977), a former American professional basketball player who played in the WNBA and overseas leagues, and is now a successful coach and mentor.
4. Nashonda Hutcherson (born 1982), an American track and field athlete who specialized in the heptathlon and represented the United States in international competitions.
5. Nashonda Williams (born 1985), an American entrepreneur and business executive who co-founded a successful tech startup focused on empowering women in the workforce.
While these individuals may not be widely recognized on a global scale, their accomplishments and contributions in their respective fields are noteworthy and serve as a testament to the diverse and remarkable individuals who have carried the name Nashonda throughout history.
People
Nashonda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nashonda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nashonda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nashonda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 70 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nashonda 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 4,896,491 US residents.
Is Nashonda a common name?
We classify Nashonda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 76 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nashonda most popular?
The single biggest year for Nashonda was 1978, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nashonda is about 46 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 Nashonda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nashonda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nashonda 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 Nashonda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nashonda 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 Nashonda 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 share the name Nashonda?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.