Everything about the name DELONDA

Meaning, origin, history

Delonda is a unique and captivating name with an intriguing origin story. It was created by best-selling author Terry McMillan for her character in the novel "Waiting to Exhale," published in 1992. The name gained popularity following the release of the book and subsequent film adaptation, becoming more common among newborn girls during the mid-1990s.

The meaning behind Delonda is not explicitly stated by McMillan, but many believe it to be a blend of two popular African American names: Delores and Monica. This interpretation makes Delonda a composite name with potential ties to Latin roots. "Delores" means "from laurel" or "of the laurels," referencing the bay laurel plant, while "Monica" is derived from the Latin word "moneres," meaning "advisor" or "alone." Thus, Delonda could symbolize strength and wisdom gained through adversity.

Before Terry McMillan introduced her fictional character Delonda in "Waiting to Exhale," there was no record of this name being used. However, since its debut in popular culture, Delonda has become more widely recognized and occasionally appears on baby naming lists. Despite its recent origins, Delonda carries a certain charm and uniqueness that sets it apart from other names.

In terms of history, the name Delonda is still quite new compared to more traditional names with centuries of use behind them. Nevertheless, as time passes, this captivating moniker continues to leave its mark on popular culture and baby naming trends.

Popularity of the name DELONDA since 1880

Birth evolution

Popularity analysis

The name Delonda has a rich history of usage in the United States, with a total of 296 babies born with this name between 1959 and 1991. The popularity of the name varied greatly over these years, with peaks and troughs that provide an interesting snapshot of naming trends during this time period.

The earliest recorded births for Delonda in the United States occurred in 1959, with six newborn girls sharing this distinctive name. This number remained relatively stable in subsequent years, with five births each in 1960 and 1961. However, there was a significant increase in popularity between 1962 and 1970, with the highest number of births occurring in 1970, when 28 baby girls were named Delonda.

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw a consistent level of popularity for the name Delonda, with double-digit birth numbers from 1968 to 1974. After a dip in the mid-1970s, there was another spike in popularity between 1977 and 1982, with a high of seven births recorded in 1982.

Despite these fluctuations in popularity, Delonda remained a relatively uncommon name throughout this period, with most years seeing fewer than ten babies born with this name. The name's usage seems to have been largely concentrated within specific communities or families, rather than being a widespread trend across the nation.

It is fascinating to observe how the usage of the name Delonda evolved over these decades. While it may not have reached the heights of popularity enjoyed by some other names, its consistent presence in American naming patterns indicates that it held enduring appeal for many parents during this time. As with any name, its meaning and cultural significance would have played a role in its selection, but the statistics alone provide an engaging glimpse into the trends and preferences of American namers from 1959 to 1991.