Roshonda
A feminine name of African-American origin, possibly a combination of the words "rose" and "shonda" meaning "lovely wonder".
Name Census estimates that about 993 living Americans carry the first name Roshonda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Roshonda today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Roshonda births was 1976 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Roshonda. 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
993
~ 1 in 345,171 Americans
Peak year
1976
61 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2002 SSA rank
#10,913
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Roshonda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Roshonda from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 417 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
Roshonda 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 Roshonda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Roshondas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Texas, Illinois, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Roshonda, while Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 30 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Roshonda
The name Roshonda is a relatively modern name that emerged in the 20th century, primarily in the United States. It is believed to be a combination of the names Rose and Rhonda, both of which have their roots in different languages and cultures.
Rose is a name derived from the Latin word "rosa," meaning the flower rose. The name has been in use since ancient times and has been popular in many cultures throughout history. In the Bible, the word "rose" is mentioned in the Song of Solomon, and it has been associated with beauty, love, and purity in various religious and cultural contexts.
Rhonda, on the other hand, is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the word "rhonwen," which means "white-breasted" or "fair-browed." It was traditionally a masculine name in Wales but later became popular as a feminine name in English-speaking countries.
The combination of these two names, Roshonda, emerged as a unique and creative name choice in the 20th century, particularly among African American communities in the United States. While it does not have a long historical lineage, the name has gained popularity and has been embraced by families seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their daughters.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who have borne the name Roshonda, although it is relatively rare compared to more traditional names. One of the earliest recorded examples is Roshonda Bell, an American actress and model who was born in 1977. She is known for her roles in films such as "The Inkwell" and "Love Jones."
Another notable figure is Roshonda DeGraffenreid, an American basketball player who played in the WNBA for several teams, including the Phoenix Mercury and the Washington Mystics. She was born in 1981 and had a successful professional career spanning over a decade.
Roshonda Ramey is an American singer and songwriter who gained recognition in the early 2000s for her work in the R&B and neo-soul genres. She has collaborated with various artists and released several albums throughout her career.
Roshonda Griffith is an American author and motivational speaker. She has written several books on personal development, self-empowerment, and overcoming adversity, drawing from her own life experiences.
Roshonda Glenn is an American entrepreneur and business executive who has held leadership positions in various companies, including serving as the CEO of a healthcare technology firm.
While the name Roshonda may not have a deeply rooted historical past, it has carved its own unique path in modern times, embraced by families seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their daughters. Its blend of cultural influences and creativity has contributed to its growing popularity and recognition.
People
Roshonda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Roshonda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Roshonda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Roshonda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 993 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Roshonda 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 345,171 US residents.
Is Roshonda a common name?
We classify Roshonda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,069 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Roshonda most popular?
The single biggest year for Roshonda was 1976, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Roshonda is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Roshonda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Roshonda 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.