The rare name Leanza first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1992. It reached peak usage the very next year.
- 1994: 15 baby girls named Leanza
- 1993: 17 baby girls named Leanza
- 1992: 8 baby girls named Leanza [debut]
- 1991: unlisted
- 1990: unlisted
Where did it come from?
Beauty queen Leanza Cornett, who was crowned Miss America 1993 in September of 1992.
The first Floridian to win the title, Leanza performed the song “A New Life” from the 1990 musical Jekyll & Hyde for the talent portion of the competition.
Her pageant platform was AIDS awareness.
She pronounced her name lee-AN-zah — middle syllable like the name Anne. Despite this, pageant co-host Kathie Lee Gifford mispronounced it lee-AHN-zah multiple times during the broadcast.
Leanza’s full name at birth was Eva Leanza Cornett. Like previous Miss America winner Kylene, and future Miss America winner Shawntel, she chose to go by her middle name.
What are your thoughts on the name Leanza? How would you pronounce it?
Sources:
- Leanza Cornett – Wikipedia
- Miss America 1993 – Wikipedia
- “There she is: Miss Florida.” Press Democrat 20 Sept. 1992: A3.
- SSA
Images: Screenshots of the TV broadcast of the 66th Miss America pageant
Love the “ Z”! Would pronounce it the way she did, of course … ?