Deja

Deja is a feminine given name most commonly used in African American communities in the United States. Its meaning comes from the French word déjà, meaning "already," and is often associated with the phrase déjà vu, which translates to "already seen." The name reflects a modern, inventive trend of adopting words or phrases with aesthetic appeal as given names.

According to the Social Security Administration, Deja ranked among the top 1,000 names for newborn girls in the United States from 1988 to 2009. Its popularity received a notable boost in 1995 when a character named Deja appeared in the film Higher Learning, directed by John Singleton. The name's variant spellings include Daja, Dajah, and longer forms such as Dejanae and Dejanelle. It can also be a short form of Dejanira, though most bearers are likely influenced by the French term.

The name Deja sometimes overlaps with Dejah, the name of a prominent character from Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom science-fiction series, first appearing in 1912. This fictional princess introduced the phonetic spelling earlier. Both the French and Burroughs-derived versions have contributed to the name's modest but sustained use among African American families.

Notable Bearers

• Déja J Bowens, British actress and singer
• Deja Foxx (born 2000), American reproductive rights activist and political strategist
• Deja Kelly (born 2001), American college basketball player

Key Facts

• Meaning: "Already" (French déjà)
• Origin: French phrase, popularized in African American naming culture
• Type: Invented name derived from a word/phrase
• Usage region: Predominantly United States (since late 1980s)