Shaniqua

Shaniqua

Pronunciation	/ʃəˈniːkwə/ shə-NEE-kwə
Gender	Female
Language(s)	English
Origin
Meaning	None (invented)
Region of origin	United States (African-American community)
Other names
Alternative spelling	Chanequa, Chineequa, [1] Shanequa, Shenequa, Sheniqua
Variant form(s)	Chanique, Shanica, Shanique, Shenique, Shinique
Related names	African-American names

Shaniqua is a female given name, originating in the African-American community, gaining popularity beginning in the 1970s and peaking in the early 1990s. ^{[1] [2]} It is often given as the prototypical example of a "ghetto name", i.e. a name likely to belong to low-income African-Americans, ^{[3] [4] [5]} and has been used in racism-related incidents to stereotype "rude" Black women. ^{[6] [7]}

People with the name Shaniqua or close variations

• Chamique Holdsclaw (born 1977), American WNBA player
• Chanequa Walker-Barnes, American theologian and psychologist
• Chanique Rabe (born 1997), Namibian model and fashion designer
• Linda Miles (born 1978), American professional wrestler who went by the name Shaniqua
• Shanica Knowles (born 1990), American actress and singer
• Shaniqua Okwok, British actress
• Shaniqua Tompkins, former partner of rapper 50 Cent
• Shanique Dessing (born 2000), Dutch footballer
• Shanique Speight (born 1978), American politician
• Sheniqua Ferguson (born 1989), Bahamian sprinter
• Sheniqua "Nikki" Greene (born 1990), American basketball player
• Sheniqua Thomas (born 1998), Barbadian netball player
• Shenique Fortune, Antigua and Barbuda politician
• Shinique Smith (born 1971), American visual artist

Other uses

• "Shaniqua" (song), a 2001 hip-hop song that achieved minor commercial success.
• The name was the namesake of the 2016 documentary Searching for Shaniqua, directed by an Old Dominion University English language professor. ^[1] According to Vibe magazine journalist Shenequa Golding, the documentary was well-received, exploring the stereotypes surrounding this name often given to Black children and the difficulties faced by those bearing the name. It won the 2016 HBO Best Documentary at Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. ^[8]

See also

• Chanika (disambiguation)
• Shanika

References

1. "'Your name's Shaniqua?' How a name can affect your life". The Virginian-Pilot . November 18, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
2. "Shaniqua - Baby Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity". thebump.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
3. "New Doc 'Searching For Shaniqua: What's in a Name?' Will Tackle Impact of Names (Fundraising) - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
4. Szilagyi, Jessica (April 25, 2023). "Picture with Decorated Trash Bin Prompts Apology, Diversity Training in Jenkins County". The Georgia Virtue. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
5. "Blacks given 'ghetto' names in SoCal yearbook". NBC News . June 28, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
6. "Racist 'Shaniqua' postings show Salinas students stomping on Black doll". Los Angeles Times . August 24, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
7. "LI NAACP head chastises Levy for 'Shaniqua' remark". Newsday . January 25, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
8. Golding, Shenequa (September 17, 2016). "'Searching For Shaniqua' Examines Names And Stereotypes". Vibe . Retrieved April 10, 2024.