# Who was the first Shaniqua? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660 "2007-05-03T20:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/21 "2007-05-04T20:11:39Z")
There has been a [Chenequa, Wisconsin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenequa) (pronounced the same) since 1928. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/22 "2007-05-04T20:33:13Z")
Oh God I know I’m going to get slammed for this but: do other groups create unique names? African Americans have the aforementioned Shaniqua (with it’s variant spellings like **Fear Itself** mentioned) and WASPs seem to have Britney/Brittenee, Katelyn/Katelynne/Caitlin. And don’t even get me started on Hollywood names. But do traditionally Hispanic names such as Miguel get modified? Are there British children name Rejineld? Little boys in Toronto named Peeyair? Is a couple in Munich planning on naming their son Hanzz? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/23 "2007-05-04T21:21:07Z")
White families in the south have been known to do it. Different cultural memes therefore not _quite_ the same “sound” or “ring” to them as the black neo-names, but aside from that, similar-enough process. I have a cousin Veerellen, a niece Keela, have had as classmates people named Sharilee, Anshela, Jovaunn, Suzelle, Jebbert, …and while no longer considered unusual because they caught on, I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua (although if someone comes along with a reference to Jared Smith of 1703, I’ll accept that). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/24 "2007-05-04T21:34:43Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua (although if someone comes along with a reference to Jared Smith of 1703, I’ll accept that). [/QUOTE] From a tombstone in Lincoln, Maine Sacred to the memory of Jared Bates, Who died Aug. the 6th, 1800. His widow, aged 24, lives at 7 Elm Street, Has every qualification for a good wife, And longs to be comforted. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/25 "2007-05-04T21:35:07Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I have a cousin Veerellen, a niece Keela, have had as classmates people named Sharilee, Anshela, Jovaunn, Suzelle, Jebbert, …and while no longer considered unusual because they caught on, I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua (although if someone comes along with a reference to Jared Smith of 1703, I’ll accept that). [/QUOTE] I don’t know if I am totally misreading the meaning of the above paragraph, but Jerome and Jared both date from ancient times. > **[Jared](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared)** > > Jared is a given name of Biblical derivation. In the Book of Genesis, the biblical patriarch Jared (.mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"Ezra SIL SR","Ezra SIL","SBL Hebrew","Taamey Frank CLM","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Frank Ruehl CLM","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,... > **[Jerome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome)** > > Jerome (/dʒəˈroʊm/; Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Ancient Greek: Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; c. 342–347 – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian priest, confessor, theologian, translator, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome. He is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate), which was commissioned by Pope Damasus I, and his commentaries on the whole Bible. Jerome attempted... A net search easily turned up these references. Just because a name is popular among the rural or undereducated doesn’t mean it’s a recent fabrication. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/26 "2007-05-04T21:35:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua (although if someone comes along with a reference to Jared Smith of 1703, I’ll accept that). Hmm, there’s a Jared in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 5. That doesn’t _prove_ that it was used as a name in English-speaking countries until recently, but I’m guessing there must have been a few. I’d also guess that a fair number of people have been named after Saint Jerome over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/27 "2007-05-04T21:41:29Z")
My grandmother, an Irish-Canadian born 1915 in Saskatchewan, is named Wonnitta. I do not know if her parents were unable to spell Juanita, if they wanted to be creative, if they wanted something other English-speakers could pronounce, or what. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/28 "2007-05-04T21:51:06Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua (although if someone comes along with a reference to Jared Smith of 1703, I’ll accept that). [/QUOTE] Here’s a fairly well know Jerome born in 1903…[_nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curly_Howard) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/29 "2007-05-04T23:13:51Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] Oh God I know I’m going to get slammed for this but: do other groups create unique names? African Americans have the aforementioned Shaniqua (with it’s variant spellings like **Fear Itself** mentioned) and WASPs seem to have Britney/Brittenee, Katelyn/Katelynne/Caitlin. And don’t even get me started on Hollywood names. But do traditionally Hispanic names such as Miguel get modified? Are there British children name Rejineld? Little boys in Toronto named Peeyair? Is a couple in Munich planning on naming their son Hanzz? [/QUOTE] Remember the whole Elian Gonzalez thing? He had a sister (or was it a cousin) named Marisleysis, which I’ve been told is a “made-up” name gaining some popularity among Hispanics. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/30 "2007-05-04T23:23:56Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. Drake] My grandmother, an Irish-Canadian born 1915 in Saskatchewan, is named Wonnitta. I do not know if her parents were unable to spell Juanita, if they wanted to be creative, if they wanted something other English-speakers could pronounce, or what. [/QUOTE] I got one better… growing up here in the rural south I knew a girl named Juanita and her parents insisted on pronouncing it “Jooa Nita”. Then there was that Mexican-American comic from about 15 years ago whose last name was Martinez and he prounounced it simply “Martin Ez.” He said he had people telling him all the time that he’s saying his name wrong. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/31 "2007-05-05T00:15:03Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I can find a women named Shaniqua Rene Johnson as being the (adult, probably) daughter of a 47-year-old lady who’s obituary appeared in the _Port Arthur(TX) News_ in 1975. FWIW, the deceased mother was originally from Evergreen, LA. but had lived in Port Arthur for the last 29 years of her life. > [@elmwood](#): > > Was that the first mention of the name in print media? We could be on to something. Yep. That’s the earliest I could find. And she had to be probably about 20 or so at that point. Interestingly, on the same page, was the obituary of “infant daughter” death of _Sharesa_ Nicole Riley. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/32 "2007-05-05T01:53:59Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] Oh God I know I’m going to get slammed for this but: do other groups create unique names? African Americans have the aforementioned Shaniqua (with it’s variant spellings like **Fear Itself** mentioned) and WASPs seem to have Britney/Brittenee, Katelyn/Katelynne/Caitlin. And don’t even get me started on Hollywood names. [/QUOTE] Like I said, I don’t want his to become a “strange black names” thread. As posted earlier, another group that gives their children unique names are [Mormons](http://wesclark.com/ubn/). They’re about as whitebread as they come. Really, it’s not the middle-class WASPs I’m finding naming their kids Brittenee and Katelynne, but rather those of a working-class exurban and rural Confederate cultural orientation, whose skin in the area between their heads and shoulders reflect light in the in the wavelength range of about 625 to 750 nanometers. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/33 "2007-05-05T02:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Really, it’s not the middle-class WASPs I’m finding naming their kids Brittenee and Katelynne, but rather those of a working-class exurban and rural Confederate cultural orientation, whose skin in the area between their heads and shoulders reflect light in the in the wavelength range of about 625 to 750 nanometers. [/QUOTE] The book _Freakonomics_ explains this phenomona. A name gains popularity with the rich and middle class strata (say, Britney or Ansley) and then a few years later, those same names are adopted by poorer folks, usually with modified spellings. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/34 "2007-05-05T03:46:30Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] The book _Freakonomics_ explains this phenomona. A name gains popularity with the rich and middle class strata (say, Britney or Ansley) and then a few years later, those same names are adopted by poorer folks, usually with modified spellings. [/QUOTE] Drifting off topic but is anybody else noticing a rash of little Reagans over the past few years, as a girl’s name? That seems like such a cruel thing to do to a child. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/35 "2007-05-05T04:51:02Z")
Shaniqua J. Gable, 73, Cove, Texas Shaniqua J. Collins, 72, Richmond, Virginia Shaniqua Williams, 71, Brooklyn, New York Shaniqua D. Alston, 66, Henderson, North Carolina Shaniqua L. Lewis, 67, Corsicana, Texas Shaniqua L. Oliver, 67, Washington, District of Columbia Shaniqua Nikita McElroy, 65, Houston, Texas Shaniqua Rasberry, 66, Houston, Texas Shaniqua M. Jackson, 65, Dallas, Texas Shaniqua R. Panton, 64, Deltona, Florida Shaniqua S. Poole, 65, Brooklyn, New York Shaniqua N. Tuck, 65, Houston, Texas Shaniqua Dansbury, 64, Baltimore, Maryland Shaniqua Gresham, 64, Atlanta, Georgia Shaniqua Hammond, 64, Barnwell, South Carolina Shaniqua Lampton, 64, Hewitt, Texas Shaniqua Turner, 64, Waco, Texas **Source Information:** [Ancestry.com](http://Ancestry.com). U.S. Public Records Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/36 "2007-05-05T08:03:52Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I suspect the first Jerome (pronounced Juh-ROME) and Jared (JAR-edd) might not predate the first Shaniqua [/QUOTE] Would that be Jérôme the common French name ? as in Saint Jérôme, feast day 30th Sept ? or a new strain varaiant ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/37 "2007-05-05T08:08:00Z")
[QUOTE=SaintCad] From a tombstone in Lincoln, Maine Sacred to the memory of Jared Bates, Who died Aug. the 6th, 1800. His widow, aged 24, lives at 7 Elm Street, Has every qualification for a good wife, And longs to be comforted. [/QUOTE] IOW, come on over and hit it. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/38 "2007-05-05T09:21:10Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Like I said, I don’t want his to become a “strange black names” thread. [/QUOTE] OK, let’s include a white Scotsman. JM Barrie invented the now pretty common [Wendy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy) back in 1904. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/39 "2007-05-05T11:38:23Z")
Slight hijack: Here is some research on the origins of distinctly black American names. [http://ideas.repec.org/a/tpr/qjecon/v119y2004i3p767-805.html](http://ideas.repec.org/a/tpr/qjecon/v119y2004i3p767-805.html) This was linked from a related article in Slate: > **[A Roshanda by any other name.](https://slate.com/business/2005/04/a-roshanda-by-any-other-name.html)** > > Which is more dangerous: a gun or a swimming pool? How much does campaign spending really matter? What truly made crime fall in the 1990s? These are... ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660/40 "2007-05-05T17:43:31Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] Shaniqua J. Gable, 73, Cove, Texas [/QUOTE] Amazing. I didn’t know the name would be that old. To be honest, I thought the oldest would be in their 30s; maybe the early 40s at the oldest. Considering the newspaper reference and this list, it looks like the name has its origins in eastern Texas. I wonder who Shaniqua Gable’s parents were; if she’s the first, I’d be curious to know how they came up with the name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-shaniqua/402660.md?page=3)