Lawonda is of African American origin, derived from the Swahili word 'lawuni', which means 'calm' or 'peace'. It gained popularity during the mid-20th century in the United States.
The name Lawonda peaked in popularity from 1970 to 1972 with a total of 69 births during these three years. It experienced its lowest point in popularity between 1954 and 1960, with only 11 births recorded across these seven years. The name saw consistent usage throughout the decades from the 1960s to the early 1980s before declining in popularity after 1985.