Johnetta is a unique and distinctive female given name of African American origin. It is composed of the names John andetta, with the latter being a feminine suffix. The name John has Hebrew origins and means "God is gracious," while etta is derived from the Latin word "aeternus" meaning "forever." Therefore, the name Johnetta can be interpreted as "God's eternal grace."
The name Johnetta was popularized by African American poet and novelist James Weldon Johnson in his 1927 novel "God's Trombones." He used the name for one of his characters, a young girl who serves as an assistant to the preacher in the story. This character added depth and authenticity to the narrative, contributing to the popularity of the name among African American communities.
Today, Johnetta is still considered a unique and powerful name that carries with it a sense of strength, grace, and eternal beauty. It is often chosen by parents who want their daughters to embody these qualities or who are looking for a distinctive name with deep historical roots. Despite its origins in African American culture, the name Johnetta has been adopted by people of various ethnic backgrounds, demonstrating its universal appeal.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends related to the name Johnetta over time in the United States.
The name Johnetta first appeared as a given name for babies born in the U.S. in the late 19th century, with six births reported in 1892. The popularity of the name steadily increased throughout the early 20th century, reaching its peak during the 1930s and 1940s.
From 1937 to 1952, the number of babies named Johnetta ranged from a low of 19 births in 1934 to a high of 69 births in 1952. This period saw consistent popularity for the name, with an average of around 40 births per year.
After the mid-1950s, the popularity of the name Johnetta began to decline gradually. Between 1957 and 1979, there were fewer than 60 births per year on average, with some years seeing as few as 20 or 30 births.
The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Johnetta, with an average of around 40 births per year during this period. However, by the mid-1980s, the popularity of the name began to decline once again.
From 1987 onwards, the name Johnetta became increasingly rare, with fewer than 25 births reported each year on average. The most recent data available shows that there were only six births in 2001 and 2006 respectively, indicating that the name has fallen out of favor in recent years.
In total, there have been 3201 babies named Johnetta born in the United States since 1892. This statistic highlights the long history and varied popularity of this unique given name over time. While once quite popular, particularly during the mid-20th century, the name Johnetta has become increasingly rare in recent decades. Nonetheless, its historical significance is clear, as thousands of individuals born over more than a century have been named Johnetta.