Lashun
Primarily a girl's name of African origin with 677 recorded births. Also given to 326 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Lashun has 677 recorded U.S. births across 39+ years, peaking at 59 in 1970. It occupies the space between “never heard of it” and “everyone has one in their class” — a name that feels personal without being obscure.
Lashun is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Lashun is a girl's and boy's baby name of African origin, a creative coinage combining the La- prefix with -shun, a phonetic rendering of Sean (meaning 'God is gracious' in Irish) or a variant of Shawn. The La- prefix is one of the most characteristic elements of African American naming from the 1960s onward.
Lashun has the crisp, two-syllable directness of many La- prefix names — a bold opening that moves quickly to a clean close. It carries the creative naming spirit of the African American tradition, building from a familiar phonetic element into a distinctive and culturally rooted new name.
EtymologyShow more
Lashun first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1961. Arriving in the 1960s, Lashun appeared during a period when American naming was beginning to diversify beyond the traditional Anglo-Saxon and biblical pools.
Its African classification suggests a path from african linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lashun has 35+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1961.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 45 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 109 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 360 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 158 | — |
The Story of Lashun
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Lashun is a Gen X staple. Girls named Lashun are most likely born between 1961 and 1980.
How rare is Lashun?
With 677 total births on record, Lashun remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1961, peaked in the 1970s with 360 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lashun by the numbers
- Would fill 14 school buses
- Meeting one Lashun per day would take 1.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(35 years, 1961–2000)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 | #16450 |
| 1997 | 6 | #13015 |
| 1995 | 13 | #6860 |
| 1994 | 6 | #12685 |
| 1993 | 6 | #12715 |
| 1991 | 8 | #9838 |
| 1990 | 6 | #12199 |
| 1989 | 10 | #7771 |
| 1988 | 6 | #11134 |
| 1987 | 9 | #7713 |
| 1985 | 14 | #5207 |
| 1984 | 10 | #6547 |
| 1983 | 11 | #6023 |
| 1982 | 15 | #4828 |
| 1981 | 20 | #3934 |
| 1980 | 14 | #5111 |
| 1979 | 18 | #4137 |
| 1978 | 19 | #3847 |
| 1977 | 25 | #3124 |
| 1976 | 23 | #3140 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lashun as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Lashun has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 326 births since 1968.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lashun a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lashun most popular?
How popular is the name Lashun?
Can Lashun be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1961–2000