Shawanda
Shawanda Origin and Meaning
Shawanda is a feminine name that emerged in African-American communities during the 1960s and 1970s, part of a trend of creating distinctive names with melodic qualities and the characteristic "-anda" ending seen in names like Miranda and Amanda. The first element may be related to names like Shawn or surnames like Shaw. Shawanda reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1970s but has become less common since the 1990s. The name has a rhythmic quality with its three syllables and blends familiar sounds in a unique combination. Shawanda represents an important period in American naming practices when many African-American parents created names that established distinctive cultural identity while maintaining appealing sound patterns.