Vonda
An invented feminine name suggested to mean "beautiful soul seeker".
Name Census estimates that about 6,622 living Americans carry the first name Vonda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Vonda today is around 63 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vonda births was 1965 (1,093 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vonda. 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
6.6K
~ 1 in 51,760 Americans
Peak year
1965
1,093 babies that year
Average age
63
years old
1966 SSA rank
#4,516
Tracked since 1899
Gender
Gender distribution for Vonda
Out of the 10,323 babies given the name Vonda since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Vonda as a male name
- Ranked #4,516 in 1966
- 5 male births in 1966
- Peak: 1964 (6 births)
Vonda as a female name
- Ranked #20,326 in 2008
- 5 female births in 2008
- Peak: 1965 (1,093 births)
Popularity
Vonda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vonda from the 1890s through to the 2000s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 4,016 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
Vonda 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 Vonda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vondas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 41 states and territories. Texas, Kentucky, Indiana recorded the most babies named Vonda, while Montana, Massachusetts, North Dakota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 172 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Vonda
The given name Vonda is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages. It is thought to be a feminine form of the male name Vondra, which is a diminutive or pet name derived from the Old Slavic name Vaclav or Wenzel. This name has its roots in the Slavic element "ven," meaning "praise" or "glory," combined with the element "vit," meaning "ruler" or "leader."
The earliest known use of the name Vonda can be traced back to the medieval period in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in areas with significant Slavic populations, such as modern-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and parts of Germany. The name was likely popularized in these regions due to the influence of various Slavic cultures and the spread of Christianity.
While the name itself may not have appeared in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the Old Slavic language, which was spoken by the ancestors of modern Slavic peoples. The name's association with the elements "praise" and "ruler" may have held significance in these cultures, potentially indicating a connection to nobility or leadership.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Vonda was Vonda Viktorovna Shepetys, a Soviet composer and pianist born in 1905 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She was known for her contributions to Soviet classical music and her work as a teacher and educator.
Another individual with this name was Vonda Schallenburg, an American artist and sculptor born in 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her works were often inspired by natural forms and organic shapes, and she exhibited her pieces across the United States.
In the realm of literature, Vonda N. McIntyre was an American science fiction author born in 1948 in Everett, Washington. She was known for her novels such as "Dreamsnake" and "The Moon and the Sun," and was a prominent figure in the science fiction community.
Vonda Pelto, born in 1941 in Los Angeles, California, was a clinical psychologist and author who wrote extensively on the topics of self-esteem, personal growth, and holistic well-being.
Lastly, Vonda Ward was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2002 to 2014, representing the 89th district.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Vonda, showcasing its use across various fields and cultures. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has persisted over time, carrying with it the rich linguistic heritage of the Slavic peoples.
People
Vonda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vonda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vonda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vonda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6,622 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vonda 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 51,760 US residents.
Is Vonda a common name?
We classify Vonda as "Rare". It ranks above 97.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10,323 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vonda most popular?
The single biggest year for Vonda was 1965, when 1,093 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vonda is about 63 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vonda a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Vonda 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.