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La
How to Pronounce La
Pronounced LAH /ˈlɑː/Medium
Meaning: La is a single-syllable name that most plausibly reflects the Vietnamese La or Lã, used as both a family name and a personal name; the sense varies by the underlying character. It can also be a record fragment, where a longer compound name (such as a La- prefix name) was truncated on a form. Given the ambiguity, its meaning cannot be fixed.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
La is a rare single-syllable boys' name in United States records, appearing from about 1926 and again in later decades, with a small high around 1992. It most likely reflects Vietnamese naming brought by immigrant families, though some entries may be truncations of longer compound names. It was never common, given to only a couple dozen boys a year even at its peak.
Because so short a name can arise more than one way, La is best read honestly as either a real Vietnamese name or a clipped record entry rather than a single settled name. Its pronunciation is a clear open 'LAH,' and it carries no fixed English meaning.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name La mean?
It is most likely a Vietnamese name (La or Lã), used as a family or personal name, or in some cases a shortened record entry; its meaning is not fixed.
How do you pronounce La?
It's said LAH /ˈlɑː/, one syllable.
Is La a boy or girl name?
La is recorded as a boy's name.
How popular is La?
It has always been rare, a one-syllable name given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak.