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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lawana

Lawana

♀ Girl

Pronounced luh-WAH-nuh /ləˈwɑː.nə/Medium

Meaning: Lawana is a modern American coinage joining the La- prefix to a -wana ending, closely related to Lawanda and to Wanda (an old Slavic name meaning 'wanderer' or tied to the Wends). Its meaning lives in the sound and its family resemblances rather than a documented root, and it was most common in African American families mid-century.Low

In 30 seconds: Lawana (said 'luh-WAH-nuh') is a coined three-beat name in the La-/-wana family, a soft cousin of Lawanda built for its rhythm.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningLawana is a modern American coinage joining the La- prefix to a -wana ending, closely related to Lawanda and to Wanda (an old Slavic name meaning 'wanderer' or tied to the Wends). Its meaning lives in the sound and its family resemblances rather than a documented root, and it was most common in African American families mid-century.
U.S. rank (2000)#16468 ↘ Falling
2000 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1971
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,028

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197119182000

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

Lawana is a coinage combining the popular La- opening with a -wana ending shared by Lawanda, and echoing the older Wanda. It appears in the records from the late 1910s in small numbers, reached its high point around 1971, and had faded by the turn of the century, following the arc of its La- siblings.

With an early-seventies peak, a Lawana is now generally in her fifties, placing it in a Baby-Boomer-to-Gen-X cohort. It reads as a name of that era rather than a reviving classic and remains uncommon. Parents who like it also like Lawanda and Latonya; the three even beats give it a smooth monogram and it pairs with siblings such as Andre or Yolanda.

Did you know? Lawana rides the same La- wave that gave us Lawanda, Latonya and Lavonne — a mid-century burst of prefixed coinages, each one a fresh, musical spin on a familiar sound.
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Lawana — Coined La-/-wana name; Lawanda/Wanda family; early-1970s peak

Variations

LawandaLawannaLavana

Nicknames

WanaLala

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Lawana…

Lawanda— the near-twin name Lawana echoes
Wanda— the older name behind the -wana ending
Latonya— a like La- three-beat coinage of the era
Lavonne— another La- girl's name of the same family

Explore names like Lawana

By themecoinedafrican-american1970s

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lawana mean?

Lawana is a modern coinage in the La-/-wana family, close to Lawanda and echoing Wanda; its meaning lives in the sound.

How do you pronounce Lawana?

It's said luh-WAH-nuh /ləˈwɑː.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Lawana a boy or girl name?

Lawana is used as a girl's name, always as a girl's name.

How popular is Lawana?

Lawana was an uncommon coinage that peaked in the early seventies and has been rare since; it has not revived.

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