Holding steady.
Popularity of Laquita since 1930
Babies named Laquita per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 484 |
| 1940s | 264 |
| 1950s | 468 |
| 1960s | 553 |
| 1970s | 1,438 |
| 1980s | 2,141 |
| 1990s | 990 |
| 2000s | 62 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Laquita is a distinctly American invention, part of a wave of creative naming that swept the United States in the mid-20th century. First recorded for a handful of girls in 1930, the name did not achieve notable usage until the 1970s and 1980s, when the La- prefix became a hallmark of many newly crafted names. Its peak year came in 1983, with roughly 1 in every 25,000 newborn girls receiving the name that year. Since then, Laquita has seen a steady decline and is now given to fewer than five girls per year nationally. The name never cracked the top 1,000 and has no single state where it was especially concentrated; its usage was scattered across the country. As a modern coinage, Laquita carries no ancient etymology or cross-cultural lineage, instead reflecting a moment when parents valued individuality and sonic appeal over tradition. Its legacy lives on through the small number of women who bear it and through its connection to the broader history of African American naming practices in the late 20th century.
Laquita is a modern American coinage that emerged in the mid-20th century, formed by combining the popular prefix La- (fashionable in African American naming practices of the era) with the name Quita or a Spanish-sounding ending. It gained noticeable usage in the 1970s and peaked in 1983, reflecting the trend of creating distinctive names for girls.
Where Laquita is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Quita, LaLa, Kita
Sibling names for Laquita
Names that share Laquita's style, for a brother or sister.
