Lamonte

Meaning & origin

Lamonte is a modern American name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1915, but it truly gained traction in the mid-20th century. Its peak came in 1972, when it was most frequently chosen for newborn boys. Since 1993, its usage has been declining, reflecting shifting naming trends away from the La- prefix style that was popular in the 1970s. Today, it is a relatively rare choice, with an incidence of about 1 in every 113,872 births as of 2025. Despite its rarity, Lamonte has a familiar sound that fits well alongside other names of its era, such as Damon and Tiana.

Lamonte is a name of modern American origin, likely derived from the French surname Mont meaning 'mountain' or 'hill'. It may have emerged as a variant of the name LaMont, which itself is a combination of the French definite article 'la' and 'mont'. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1915 and saw peak usage in the 1970s, particularly in African American communities, where it was part of a trend of creating distinctive names using prefixes like La- and De-.