Why do most black women's names end in "a"?

Question

Please don't everyone call me a racist. I just of noticed this the other day.

Black women, African women... I know many African women who resent being called African and they say, I've never lived on that Continent...I'm an American..a black American.

Answer 1

I knew right away that you were going to catch it from all sides for that question.......................
I think you were referring to the "ia" syndrome--ie. putting "ia" at the end of just about anything and forming a "name". Come on, Black folks, African American folks, all folks--let's lighten up here a little. Some of the most recent names given to our other-than-white kids have been AWFUL--and the spelling!???!!!!. Try being a teacher in an inner city school and calling the role......I don't car what color you are, you'll make some mistakes. I once knew a young woman of color and her name was Priscilla, but it was spelled Pressicalla, which I mistakenly pronounced "press" (as in iron) "i" (as in it) "calla" (as in the lily). Boy was my face RED! Or, how about the woman who saw the word "urine" on her baby's chart and thought that sounded like a good name, pro-nounced U-rine (Long "u" sound, followed by "rine" with a long "i" sound.) (True story!) Or all the babies named Placenta or Placentia???????My daughter, who is NOT white, told me about a girl who named her baby after the two things she saw right as she went into labor, land and a tray-------poor child ended up "Lantrania".

My father-in-law, who IS African American, said that he thinks today's boys are so wild because of their names (tongue in cheek, of course....), like Kwame, Anfernee, Kenyatta, etc. He said if they just had nice, solid, American Bobs, Jims and Michaels that might be better behaved.

People of color, pick your battles. Fight with the REAL racists, not just people asking questions. I know it is a sensitive area, and, because I'm white, I tread very carefully. Only when I'm with my closest Black family members and friends will I kid about things like the names, CPT, and other such stuff. (You KNOW you do it , too.) Continue to point out when people make racist comments and ask racist questions--because a lot of white folks don't even realize when they've said something that falls into that category. But just be a little easier on them. When you get all militant on them, it scares them away--and you might just miss out on someone who could be a really good friend!

When my bi-racial daughter graduated with honors from a mostly Black high school in Detroit, the principal (Also African American) was giving a speech about the National Merit Scholars from his school. He said, "...blah...blah...and they received National Merit scholarships for their test scores against other Detroiter, and thses ppeople over here did even better: they received their scholarships based on tests against the whole country." I was in shock!!! I looked at my husband and asked, "Did he just say what I think he said?" Obviously he thought that it was easier to get "grades" against other Black folks than to get them against "everybody" (ie. the mostly white reat of the country....)

THAT is the insidious kind of racism that must be tackled! Please don't pick on this questioner for her thoughts on Marcceea, LaLanda, Loliquia, Quisha, etc. (Sorry, folks, real names I've come across--and these are mild compared to some others....)

Peace, Luv, and Nappiness,
Not A Racist

Answer 2

Black Womans Names

Answer 3

I never thought about that.. in my own family most of the names end in A (we are irish) there is Treva, Terrena, Marrina, Marrisa, Kristina, Linda.. etc I think Americans like names ending in A and I suppose black Americans are no different than other Americans. My daughter has Indian American friends named Mona, Donna, Sylvia, Tasha. I think it just sounds nice.

Answer 4

One will never know, however, most women names as a whole end in an "A". HOWEVER< Please refer to us as African American Women, not Black Women

Answer 5

I wonder maybe it is just a commonality among people that you know. I have many friends, now and over the years, who were of several different ethnicities. When I think of the different ladies' no one ethnicity sticks out as ending with a. If nothing else, my white/Caucasian friends tend more to end in a. Christina, Mikayla, Katrina, etc. I think ladies names in general end in vowel sounds to make them more feminine.

Answer 6

I met some black women from Birmingham, England named Laura and Vivienne. next time I see them, i visit ask them. and prefer yet another female the following, I did meet an Erica and also a Debbie even as i become interior the united states of a

Answer 7

Is that true? First off when I think about it, I wonder how many anglo women or spanish women have names that end in a. Have you considered that what you notice is coincidence rather than science?

Answer 8

I guess because it's feminine and kind of exotic at the same time. Many names are very "unique" or different, but actually, I know alot of white people whose female children have names ending in "A" also - in fact - mine does too!

Answer 9

I'm not black american, I am african american and not ashamed to say it. Shame on those who feel different. I can't tell you why, but mine doesn't.

Answer 10

I do believe you are wrong about most. Where did you get your information? I just looked at a book with names for new Born's and I did not find anything to the contrary...

Answer 11

because it sounds cool. and it just rolls off the tounge. Audreya. Shakira. Madonna. Regisa. Kellya. La Fawnda. see? it's like magic.