Lavetta is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin, predominantly found among individuals with African heritage. It gained popularity during the mid-20th century, often used as an alternative to more traditional names like Lavinia. The name Lavetta is believed to have been inspired by the Italian surname Lavetti, which was derived from the Italian word 'lavetta', meaning 'little wash'. However, it's important to note that this etymology is not universally accepted and its exact origin remains unclear.
The name Lavetta saw its peak popularity between 1951 and 1964, with the highest number of births occurring in 1962 (27 births). However, after a steady decline from the late 1960s onwards, there were only single-digit births recorded annually from 1983 to 1993, with the lowest being just 7 births in 1990.