Yawanda
Of uncertain origin, possibly a combination of Yoruba words meaning "Mother loves her child".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Yawanda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yawanda today is around 61 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yawanda births was 1971 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yawanda. 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 Yawanda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1971
5 babies that year
Average age
61
years old
1971 SSA rank
#9,627
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Yawanda: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yawanda 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 Yawanda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yawanda
The name Yawanda is believed to have originated from the Yoruba language of West Africa. It is a combination of two words: "awa" meaning "beauty" and "anda" meaning "precious." The earliest recorded usage of this name dates back to the 16th century in the region now known as Nigeria.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Yawanda was a Yoruba princess who lived in the 17th century. She was renowned for her intelligence and diplomatic skills, playing a crucial role in negotiations between rival kingdoms.
In the 19th century, Yawanda was the name of a celebrated Yoruba poet whose works celebrated the rich cultural traditions of her people. Her poetry was widely recited and preserved through oral traditions, influencing generations of Yoruba artists and storytellers.
During the colonial era in West Africa, Yawanda was the name of a prominent activist who fought against the oppressive policies of the European powers. She organized peaceful protests and advocated for the rights of her people, becoming a symbol of resistance against colonial rule.
Yawanda was also the name of a respected Yoruba healer and herbalist in the early 20th century. Her vast knowledge of traditional medicine and her compassion for others earned her a reputation as a wise and caring figure in her community.
Another notable individual with the name Yawanda was a Yoruba sculptor in the mid-20th century. Her intricate carvings and sculptures depicted scenes from Yoruba mythology and daily life, preserving the cultural heritage of her people through her art.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Yawanda, a name deeply rooted in the Yoruba culture and tradition, representing beauty, preciousness, and the rich cultural heritage of West Africa.
People
Yawanda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yawanda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yawanda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yawanda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yawanda 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Yawanda a common name?
We classify Yawanda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yawanda most popular?
The single biggest year for Yawanda was 1971, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yawanda is about 61 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 Yawanda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yawanda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yawanda 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 Yawanda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yawanda 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 Yawanda 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 common is the name Yawanda?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Yawanda on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.