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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tawanda

Tawanda

♀ Girl

Pronounced tuh-WAHN-duh /təˈwɑːn.də/Medium

Meaning: A coined African-American name of the 1960s-70s, joining the Ta- prefix to Wanda, a name of Polish/Slavic origin sometimes read as 'wanderer' or tied to an old Slavic tribe. We note it honestly as a coinage.Low

In 30 seconds: A rhythmic coinage: Tawanda joins Ta- to Wanda, said 'tuh-WAHN-duh.' A genuine name of its era.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningA coined African-American name of the 1960s-70s, joining the Ta- prefix to Wanda, a name of Polish/Slavic origin sometimes read as 'wanderer' or tied to an old Slavic tribe. We note it honestly as a coinage.
U.S. rank (2003)#13720 ↗ Rising
2003 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1977
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,058

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197719442003

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

Tawanda is a genuine African-American coinage joining the Ta- prefix to Wanda, a Polish/Slavic name sometimes read as 'wanderer.' Part of a creative naming wave, it peaked in 1977 and receded after (said 'tuh-WAHN-duh'). We note it honestly as a coinage.

Tawanda belongs to a seventies naming moment and is rare today. Rare, rhythmic, and modern.

Did you know? Tawanda is a coined name from the Ta-plus-Wanda pattern; it peaked around 1977 and has faded since.
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Tawanda — Coinage; Ta- + Wanda

Variations

TowandaTawanaTawanna

Nicknames

WandaTawa

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tawanda…

Towanda— a like spelling variant
Wanda— the second element
Latanya— a like coined name
Shawanda— a like Ta-/Sha- coinage

Explore names like Tawanda

By themecoinageafrican-americanrhythmic1970s

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tawanda mean?

Tawanda is a coined African-American name joining the Ta- prefix to Wanda; we note it honestly as a coinage.

How do you pronounce Tawanda?

It's said tuh-WAHN-duh /təˈwɑːn.də/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Tawanda a boy or girl name?

Tawanda is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Tawanda?

Tawanda peaked in the late seventies and is uncommon now.

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