La Unisex

Popularity: · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: lah /lɑː/

Origin: French; Chinese

Meaning: French: 'the'; Chinese: 'beautiful'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name La has uncertain etymological roots, but it is often associated with various linguistic traditions. One possible origin is from the Latin word "laudare," meaning "to praise," which has influenced several names in Romance languages.

The name may also derive from the French word "la," meaning "the," which is used as a definite article. This connection to French could suggest a cultural significance tied to femininity or identity, as many French names incorporate articles or modifiers that denote gender.

The path into English likely occurred through the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many French names and terms were adopted into English vernacular. Historically, the name La does not have prominent figures or milestones directly associated with it, unlike more established names.

However, its simplicity and phonetic appeal may have contributed to its use in various cultures. In literature and art, the use of simple, evocative names has often been favored, and La may have found resonance in poetic or artistic contexts.

The name's brevity and ease of pronunciation could have made it appealing in various narratives and folk tales, although specific examples are less documented. Culturally, names like La may symbolize a connection to nature or simplicity, reflecting a broader tradition of using short, elemental names in many cultures.

The name's potential diminutive forms or variations could include "Lala" or similar phonetic adaptations, which often carry affectionate connotations in various languages. Overall, while La may not have a rich historical narrative, its linguistic roots and cultural associations suggest a timeless quality that resonates across different eras and societies.

Fictional characters named La

The following list of fictional characters named La is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

La La Land is a fictional character from the film La La Land. She is a talented aspiring actress who navigates her dreams and relationships in Los Angeles.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with La, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with La. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name La was first seen in the United States in 1913.

La has ranked as high as #2636 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, New York, and South Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name La has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name La is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when La was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for La.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2022 8 8 0
2018 5 5 0
2011 5 5 0
2007 11 5 6
2006 13 0 13
2005 14 5 9
2004 14 6 8
2003 7 0 7
2002 6 0 6
2001 22 8 14
2000 19 0 19
1999 42 14 28
1998 30 7 23
1997 32 8 24
1996 29 10 19
1995 43 13 30
1994 54 10 44
1993 74 19 55
1992 84 23 61
1991 84 16 68
1990 94 14 80
1989 52 11 41
1988 13 5 8
1987 17 5 12
1986 29 8 21
1985 30 0 30
1984 59 6 53
1983 46 0 46
1982 43 6 37
1981 45 10 35
1980 29 8 21
1979 38 9 29
1978 22 0 22
1977 20 0 20
1976 28 7 21
1975 28 0 28
1974 29 0 29
1973 28 7 21
1972 32 5 27
1971 30 7 23
1970 30 0 30
1969 25 6 19
1968 40 5 35
1967 37 7 30
1966 13 0 13
1965 12 0 12
1964 9 0 9
1963 9 0 9
1962 8 0 8
1961 5 0 5
1960 20 7 13
1959 8 8 0
1957 5 0 5
1956 5 0 5
1954 5 0 5
1953 9 0 9
1952 6 0 6
1949 6 0 6
1947 9 0 9
1946 6 0 6
1943 5 0 5
1942 7 0 7
1941 6 0 6
1940 8 0 8
1939 9 0 9
1938 8 0 8
1936 9 0 9
1935 11 0 11
1934 8 0 8
1933 12 0 12
1932 5 0 5
1931 5 0 5
1930 10 0 10
1929 5 5 0
1928 6 0 6
1927 9 0 9
1926 13 6 7
1925 6 0 6
1924 5 0 5
1923 8 0 8
1920 5 0 5
1919 8 0 8
1918 8 0 8
1913 5 0 5

Top States for La (2006)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
AR 6
100%