Les noms peuvent être une chose amusante. Il ne faut pas grand-chose pour faire monter ou descendre les charts de dénomination, qu'il s'agisse d'une chanson à succès ou d'un personnage adorable de films ou de télévision. Plutôt que de simplement regarder quel était le nom le plus populaire l'année de votre naissance, Stacker a voulu plonger un peu plus profondément pour découvrir les noms qui ont été les plus influents chaque année au cours du siècle dernier.
Pour déterminer les noms de bébé qui ont gagné le plus en popularité au cours de chacune des 100 dernières années, Stacker a consulté la base de données historique des noms de bébé de la Social Security Administration. Pour chaque année de 1920 à 2018, nous avons calculé les noms de bébé (pour les filles et les garçons) à partir des 1 000 noms les plus populaires pour cette année qui avaient le plus progressé par rapport à leur popularité l'année précédente. Les rangs et le nombre de bébés pour chaque nom chaque année sont également inclus dans l'histoire.
Avec chaque diapositive, sont également répertoriés certains facteurs qui peuvent avoir affecté les choix de noms cette année-là, des influences historiques et de la culture pop aux noms qui semblent sortir de nulle part. Par exemple, le R&B et le rap ont eu un effet profond dans les années 1990, avec des centaines de Myas, Dangelos et Shaquans ajoutés au monde. Les présidents ont également fait leur marque, avec Lyndon Baines Johnson inscrivant son nom sur la liste à deux reprises, une fois à la suite de l'assassinat du président John F. Kennedy en 1963. Kennedy a également augmenté en conséquence.
Nulle part vous ne trouverez un plus grand influenceur que les films et la télévision, avec des noms comme Dawson, Landon, Errol et Rick qui prennent de l'ampleur depuis l'écran.
Si vous êtes curieux de savoir si votre nom a fait bouger les choses au cours des 100 dernières années, Stacker vous a couvert, d'Axel à Zina, alors continuez à lire pour trouver les prénoms qui ont gagné en popularité l'année de votre naissance.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Bryce (252 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1919 : 832 (62 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1920 : 580 (115 bébés nés ). 787 (84 bébés nés)
Une variante du nom Brice, un nom celtique signifiant « moucheté », Bryce était le nom de famille d'un pionnier mormon, Ebenezer Bryce, qui a donné son nom au parc national de Bryce Canyon. Myrl a peut-être gagné du terrain grâce à la nouvelle "Dora Myrl, The Lady Detective", qui fait partie d'une série populaire de M. McDonnell Bodkin au tournant du siècle. Le nom de Bryce perdure aujourd'hui à travers les athlètes Bryce Harper et Bryce Petty, et pour une fille dans l'actrice Bryce Dallas-Howard, tandis que Myrl a disparu des charts.
2 / 99
- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Dante (264 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1920 : 826 (66 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1921 : 562 (125 bébés nés ). 742 (97 bébés nés)
L'un des porteurs les plus célèbres du nom de Dante avant 1921 était le poète italien Dante Alighieri, qui a écrit "La Divine Comédie". Henry, en tant que nom de fille, a atteint un sommet de popularité en 1882 en atteignant le top 500 et a connu une légère résurgence, peut-être en partie comme un clin d'œil à la popularité écrasante d'Henry Ford. Alors qu'Henry a pratiquement disparu en tant que prénom féminin, Dante est le prénom du rappeur/acteur Mos Def et est resté dans le top 500 en tant que prénom masculin depuis 1974.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Daryl (417 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1921 : 843 (67 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1922 : 426 (199 bébés nés ). 388 (283 bébés nés)
Une variante du nom Darrell, d'origine française signifiant «bien-aimé», Daryl a sauté plus de 400 places de 1921 à 1922. Daryl est reconnu comme un nom de fille avec l'actrice Daryl Hannah. Il est également porté par le musicien masculin Daryl Hall et l'ancien arrière de la NFL Daryl Johnston. Marilynn a commencé à être utilisée dans les années 1920 et tire ses racines de deux femmes vénérées dans la Bible, la Vierge Marie et Marie-Madeleine.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Jordan (257 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1922 : 949 (54 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1923 : 692 (87 bébés nés ). 486 (202 bébés nés)
Un nom hébreu signifiant "couler", la Jordanie a été initialement donnée aux personnes baptisées dans l'eau du Jourdain, et a gagné en popularité au début des années 1920, en partie à cause de l'augmentation de la migration juive d'Europe autour de la Première Guerre mondiale. début des années 1990, en tant que nom de garçon et de fille, grâce à la superstar du basket-ball Michael Jordan. Le laurier vient du latin en référence à la couronne de laurier, symbole de paix et de réussite dans la Rome antique.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Virgle (264 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1923 :#941 (53 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1924 :#677 (92 bébés nés ). 786 (91 bébés nés)
Virgle puise ses racines dans une variation de Virgile, le nom d'un poète romain du premier siècle, qui a écrit "l'Enéide". Virgil a légèrement chuté en popularité de 1923 à 1924 alors que la variante Virgle augmentait. Ocie a été utilisé comme nom unisexe, mais n'est plus utilisé depuis les années 1930, avec seulement neuf Ocie nés en 2012.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Dexter (315 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1924 : 984 (51 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1925 : 669 (91 bébés nés ). 586 (151 bébés nés)
Dexter a pris un peu de vitesse en 1925 en tant que nom du protagoniste de la nouvelle de 1922 de F. Scott Fitzgerald "Winter Dreams". Issu du nom de famille en vieil anglais de quelqu'un qui travaille avec des colorants, Dexter est aujourd'hui considéré comme le tueur en série de la série Showtime du même nom basée sur une série de romans. Ophélie, qui signifie "aide", a été rendue célèbre par "Hamlet" de Shakespeare en 1600, avec la variante espagnole/italienne Ofelia qui est devenue un nom de fille en 1920.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Kirby (257 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1925 : 983 (48 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1926 : 726 (77 bébés nés) ). 748 (92 bébés nés)
Une femme française du nom de George, Georgene, qui signifie «fermière», a pris de l'importance grâce en partie à Georgene Faulkner, une auteure populaire pour enfants au début du XXe siècle. Kirby tire ses racines d'un nom de famille anglais signifiant «établissement d'église» en norrois. Kirby est resté populaire jusqu'au milieu du 20e siècle grâce aux personnages de l'icône John Wayne, qui a joué cinq personnages qui ont utilisé le nom.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Valentino (302 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1926 : 979 (49 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1927 : 677 (90 bébés nés ). 477 (213 bébés nés)
Les noms européens en V représentaient les gains les plus importants pour les deux sexes en 1927, avec l'Italien Valentino et le Suédois-Russe Vilma en plein essor. Valentino, qui signifie "fort, en bonne santé", vient de Valentin, un saint du IIIe siècle et homonyme des vacances de février. Deux acteurs de l'ère du cinéma muet ont contribué à conserver leurs noms respectifs dans la culture populaire, l'actrice hongroise américaine Vilma Banky jouant dans deux films aux côtés de Rudolph Valentino.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Duncan (237 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1927 : 900 (57 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1928 : 663 (89 bébés nés ). 420 (264 bébés nés)
Duncan vient du gaélique, qui signifie "guerrier noir", et a été porté par deux rois écossais, dont l'un figurait dans la pièce shakespearienne "MacBeth". Une augmentation de l'immigration écossaise au début des années 1920 peut être partiellement attribuée au succès du nom, avec plus de 350 000 Écossais entrant aux États-Unis au cours de la décennie. La pièce de théâtre de 1924 et la comédie muette de 1926 "What Price Glory?" a donné naissance au nom de Charmaine, en tant que personnage féminin principal du deuxième film le plus rentable de l'année.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Evert (275 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1928 : 981 (49 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1929 : 706 (77 bébés nés) ). 482 (197 bébés nés)
Une version néerlandaise-suédoise du nom germanique Everard, qui signifie «sanglier courageux», Evert est toujours un nom populaire aux Pays-Bas malgré sa disparition de la liste SSA en 1938. Bien que le plus célèbre Evert soit peut-être Chris Evert Lloyd, une orthographe alternative, Everett, a fait un bond dans le top 100 en 2018. Le film à succès de 1928 "Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time" a envoyé à la fois ce nom et l'orthographe alternative Jeanine, qui signifie "Dieu est gracieux", en remontant la liste SSA. /P> 
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Farrell (265 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1929 : 983 (47 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1930 : 718 (76 bébés nés ). 700 (97 bébés nés)
La combinaison de l'augmentation de l'immigration irlandaise associée au succès de l'acteur irlandais américain Charles Farrell a aidé le nom à remonter la liste des garçons. Wynona est une orthographe alternative pour Winona, et a été adaptée de la culture Sioux, signifiant « fille aînée ». Dans la légende sioux, et portée à la culture populaire à travers un certain nombre de livres, Winona sauta à sa mort plutôt que d'épouser un homme qu'elle n'aimait pas.
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- Prénom masculin qui a gagné le plus de popularité :Dino (a gagné 228 places)
--- Rang en 1930 : 944 (51 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1931 : #716 (72 bébés nés ). 611 (117 bébés nés)
Entre 1880 et 1920, près de 4 millions d'immigrants italiens sont entrés aux États-Unis, et la population croissante a peut-être contribué à une augmentation du nombre de Dinos en 1931. L'actrice Claudette Colbert est devenue célèbre dans les nouveaux soi-disant talkies de la fin des années 1920 et début des années 30, avec sa beauté et sa voix chantante qui attirent l'attention sur le nom. Forme féminine française du nom romain Claudius, Claudette tomberait du top 1000 en 1973.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Lindsey (268 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1931 : 997 (44 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1932 : 729 (73 bébés nés) ). 685 (98 bébés nés)
Un nom de famille anglais qui remonte au territoire de Lindsey dans le Lincolnshire, le prénom Lindsey était principalement utilisé pour les garçons jusqu'aux années 1970. L'ascension de la future « femme bionique » Lindsay Wagner au début des années 1970 a peut-être précipité le changement. Un autre nom d'origine anglaise, Marylyn a attiré l'attention à la fin des années 1920 grâce à l'actrice musicale populaire Marilyn Miller, qui s'est lancée dans le cinéma au début des années 1930.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Delano (375 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1932 : 677 (81 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1933 : 302 (315 bébés nés ). 688 (89 bébés nés)
Franklin D. Roosevelt a été élu président en 1933 et a à lui seul provoqué une augmentation du nom de Delano, son deuxième prénom. D'un nom de famille français pour quelqu'un de La Noue, Delano était le nom de jeune fille de la mère de Roosevelt, Sara Delano. De même d'origine française, Bernita est une version féminine de Bernard, ce qui signifie "fort comme un ours".
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Lynwood (287 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1933 : 842 (54 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1934 : 555 (113 bébés nés ). 710 (87 bébés nés)
D'un nom de famille anglais signifiant «forêt fluviale», Lynwood était une orthographe alternative populaire de Linwood dans les années 1930. Georgina, qui signifie «fermier», est une version féminisée du nom George, qui remonte à un certain nombre de saints et de rois. Le nom a peut-être été ajouté à la liste en hommage à George Herman "Babe" Ruth, qui a joué sa dernière saison avec les Yankees de New York en 1934.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Kerry (a gagné 420 places)
--- Rang en 1934 : 968 (43 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1935 : 548 (110 bébés nés) ). 465 (187 bébés nés)
Tiré du nom d'un comté d'Irlande, Kerry est apparu pour la première fois en tant que nom de garçon en 1934 et restera populaire en tant que nom de garçon et de fille jusqu'aux années 1990. Marva a des liens à la fois avec l'anglais et l'araméen, ce qui signifie "dame ou maîtresse de maison", en plus d'être le mot hébreu pour sage.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Landon (505 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1935 : 930 (46 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1936 : 425 (173 bébés nés ). 178 (1 071 bébés nés)
Alfred Landon était un politicien candidat à la présidence en 1936, et le Literary Digest prédisait qu'il remporterait l'élection contre Franklin D. Roosevelt dans un glissement de terrain (le contraire s'est produit). Le nom n'a passé que trois ans sur la liste SSA de 1935 à 1937, avant de tomber jusqu'en 1962, où il est resté dans le top 100 depuis 2003, en partie grâce à la superstar du football américain Landon Donovan. Le personnage principal du film de 1935 « La femme en rouge » a aidé à mettre le nom de Shelby sur la liste des filles (c'était pour les garçons depuis 1880) et a provoqué un bond de plus de 600 places jusqu'en 1936.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Errol (a gagné 415 places)
--- Rang en 1936 : 905 (46 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1937 : 490 (136 bébés nés) ). 139 (1 624 bébés nés)
Un homme, l'acteur australien Errol Flynn, peut être crédité d'avoir envoyé le nom dans les charts en 1937 après que "Captain Blood" et "The Charge of the Light Brigade" soient devenus des succès retentissants en 1936. Deanna Durbin a aidé à faire de même pour son nom, jouant le rôle de la fille adolescente dans de nombreux films des années 1930, dont le hit de 1936 "Every Sunday" aux côtés de Judy Garland.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Lance (382 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1937 : 721 (70 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1938 : 339 (267 bébés nés) ). 375 (310 bébés nés)
Dérivé du nom allemand Lanzo, qui signifie «terre», Lance a rejoint la liste de la sécurité sociale en 1934, peut-être en partie du personnage fictif Lance O'Leary de la série Mystery Movie des années 1930. L'acteur Lance Henriksen et le Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth ont tous deux manqué de peu de contribuer au pic, car ils sont nés en 1940. Arleen Whelan a apporté une certaine notoriété à l'orthographe alternative d'Arline en 1938 en tant que rôle féminin principal dans le film "Kidnapped, ” basé sur le livre de Robert Louis Stevenson.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Judith (292 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1938 : 977 (42 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1939 : 685 (75 bébés nés ). 740 (85 bébés nés)
Judith a couru neuf ans dans le top 1 000 en tant que nom masculin de 1938 à 1946, et a peut-être gagné du terrain grâce à Judy Garland, qui a joué dans "Le magicien d'Oz" en 1939. Le succès de Garland en tant que Dorothy a aidé à propulser le nom Judith, hébreu pour "femme de Judée", au top 10 des noms de filles en 1939. Une variante de Marlene, un mélange des noms Maria et Magdalene, en association avec le personnage du Nouveau Testament de la Bible. Bien qu'elle ait utilisé l'orthographe traditionnelle, l'actrice Marlene Dietrich a apporté la notoriété au nom, jouant dans un certain nombre de films au cours des années 1930
21 / 99
- Prénom masculin ayant gagné le plus en popularité :Jeffery (327 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1939 : 836 (53 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1940 : 509 (128 bébés nés ). 478 (200 bébés nés)
Adapté du nom d'une sainte romaine qui a donné tout son argent à des œuvres caritatives, Mélanie a gagné plus de 400 places en 1940 grâce à la sortie du film "Autant en emporte le vent". Melanie Hamilton Wilkes était la belle-sœur et éventuellement la meilleure amie de l'héroïne du film à succès Scarlett O'Hara. Une orthographe alternative à Jeffrey et Geoffrey, signifiant "gage de paix", Jeffery atteindrait le n ° 42 en 1966.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Lyndon (294 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1940 : 938 (46 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1941 : 644 (90 bébés nés ). 567 (151 bébés nés)
Alors qu'il était président dans les années 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson a rajeuni le nom, un nom qu'il a peut-être contribué à développer en 1940, quelques années après son élection à la Chambre des représentants des États-Unis. Shari, qui signifie « princesse », tire ses racines d'un diminutif du nom hébreu Sharon, et l'augmentation de l'utilisation du nom pourrait coïncider avec la migration juive pour échapper à l'Allemagne nazie.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Colin (389 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1941 :#712 (75 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1942 :#323 (348 bébés nés ). 581 (162 bébés nés)
La fierté nationale a peut-être contribué à la montée du nom de Colin, car Colin Kelly Jr. a été l'un des premiers héros américains de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Kelly était un pilote décédé en 1941 aux Philippines quelques jours après l'attaque de Pearl Harbor, ordonnant à son équipage de renflouer le bombardier peu avant qu'il n'explose. 1941 et 1942 ont été les deux seules années où Jerilynn a atteint le top 1 000, qui est une combinaison des noms Jeri et Lynn, signifiant « règne avec une lance ».
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Rick (252 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1942 : 651 (96 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1943 : 399 (237 bébés nés ). 543 (190 bébés nés)
Voici Rick Blaine, le propriétaire fictif de la discothèque interprété par Humphrey Bogart dans le film "Casablanca" de 1942. Le personnage a contribué à donner une ascension rapide à l'adaptation du nom de Richard, qui signifie "courageux dirigeant". Nikki a des racines franco-grecques en tant que diminutif de Nicole, signifiant «peuple de la victoire». "Darling Nikki" de Prince aiderait le nom à remonter temporairement dans la liste en 1984-1985 avant de tomber en disgrâce en 2006.
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- Prénom masculin qui a gagné le plus de popularité :Ismael (a gagné 257 places)
--- Rang en 1943 :#955 (49 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1944 :#698 (79 bébés nés ). 544 (176 bébés nés)
Une adaptation espagnole du nom d'Ishmael, le fils d'Abraham dans la Bible, le succès de l'acteur espagnol Ismael Merlo et du réalisateur mexicain Ismael Rodriguez pourrait expliquer un pic en 1944. Dérivé du français Cherie signifiant « chérie », Cheryle a passé 21 ans sur la liste SSA avant de finalement tomber en 1964. Le nom a peut-être gagné du terrain en 1942 en partie grâce à l'actrice hollywoodienne Lana Turner, qui a nommé sa fille Cheryl en 1943.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Franklyn (280 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1944 : 972 (44 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1945 : 692 (77 bébés nés ). 517 (198 bébés nés)
La résurgence temporaire de Franklyn en 1945 pourrait peut-être être une orthographe alternative en hommage au président Franklin Roosevelt, décédé en avril de la même année. Candy est entrée dans le top 1 000 des noms en 1943 et a rapidement gravi les échelons grâce à Candy Jones, l'une des meilleures pin-up de l'époque de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Elle est apparue sur pas moins de 11 couvertures de magazines en un seul mois en 1943. Plus tard, elle a affirmé de manière controversée avoir travaillé pour la CIA et avoir subi un contrôle mental.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Drew (230 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1945 : 645 (88 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1946 : 415 (234 bébés nés ). 442 (305 bébés nés)
Une forme abrégée du nom anglais Andrew, du grec signifiant "viril", Drew est également devenu un nom de fille en 1994 lorsque la renommée de l'actrice Drew Barrymore a commencé à croître. Gilda a bondi de près de 500 places grâce à l'interprétation (et au retournement de cheveux) de Rita Hayworth en tant que personnage principal du film "Gilda" en 1946. Par coïncidence, la plus célèbre Gilda de la vie réelle, Gilda Radner de Saturday Night Live, était l'une des 305 Gildas né en 1946.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Jody (357 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1946 : 935 (51 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1947 : 578 (137 bébés nés ). 613 (188 bébés nés)
L'adaptation cinématographique du roman de 1938 "The Yearling" est sortie dans les salles de cinéma à la fin de 1946, avec Claude Jarman Jr. remportant le Juvenile Academy Award en tant que jeune protagoniste du film, Jody. Carlotta trouve ses origines dans une forme italienne de Charlotte, qui signifie "homme libre", et était tombé en disgrâce en tant que nom en 1960.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Shawn (363 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1947 : 923 (57 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1948 : 560 (143 bébés nés ). 519 (252 bébés nés)
Une orthographe alternative du nom irlandais Sean, Shawn a même fait sa première apparition dans le top 1 000 en tant que nom féminin en 1948, pour accompagner les 363 places gagnées pour les garçons. Également issu de l'irlandais, du mot cailin signifiant "fille", Coleen a vu le jour grâce en partie à l'actrice Coleen Gray, qui a joué le rôle de l'amoureuse face à John Wayne dans "Red River" en 1948.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Derek (222 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1948 : 862 (63 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1949 : 640 (114 bébés nés ). 614 (181 bébés nés)
Adapté de l'allemand, signifiant "le dirigeant du peuple", Derek était un nom britannique populaire et a peut-être repris du terrain après la représentation par Derek Bond du personnage principal dans "Nicholas Nickleby". Shelly est une adaptation d'un nom de famille signifiant "nettoyage sur une banque" et a vu le succès comme une orthographe alternative à Shelley, qui devenait célèbre en 1949 avec l'actrice Shelley Winters.
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- Prénom masculin qui a gagné le plus en popularité :Derrick (a gagné 242 places)
--- Rang en 1949 :#754 (83 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1950 :#512 (171 bébés nés ). 652 (171 bébés nés)
Dérivé du persan signifiant «aube», Roxann a bondi de 322 places de 1949 à 1950, mais n'a duré sur la liste que jusqu'en 1970, alors que son orthographe alternative, Roxanne, a atteint 2 000 grâce en partie à la chanson de la police du même nom. Un an après que Derek ait fait le plus grand saut, Derrick est apparu comme une variante, gagnant 242 places pour lancer les années 1950.
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- Prénom masculin le plus populaire :Ritchie (246 places gagnées)
--- Rang en 1950 : 978 (50 bébés nés)
--- Rang en 1951 : 732 (90 bébés nés ). 476 (306 bébés nés)
Variante de Richie et abréviation de Richard, signifiant «courageux dirigeant», Ritchie figurait de haut en bas sur la liste avant de tomber dans le top 1 000 en 1974. Mindy Carson a contribué à donner naissance à son nom à la fin des années 1940 et au début des années 50 en tant que un chanteur pop, et était le plus jeune à faire la une du célèbre Copacabana Club en 1949.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Beverly (gained 204 places)
--- Rank in 1951:#971 (52 babies born)
--- Rank in 1952:#767 (84 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Vanessa (gained 354 places)
--- Rank in 1951:#656 (176 babies born)
--- Rank in 1952:#302 (697 babies born)
Beverly began to give way to being a girls name and only would spend two more years on the Social Security’s boys' name list before leaving. As a name, Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift for a 1726 poem to his lover, Esther Vanhomrigh, by using the syllables from her first and last names. Vanessa Redgrave would help her the name reach the top 100 by 1977.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Mikel (gained 174 places)
--- Rank in 1952:#683 (104 babies born)
--- Rank in 1953:#509 (190 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Luann (gained 386 places)
--- Rank in 1952:#616 (202 babies born)
--- Rank in 1953:#230 (1,195 babies born)
Singer Lu Ann Simms spent three years on the Arthur Godfrey TV show starting in 1952, bringing much attention to the mashup of the names Lou and Ann. She was so popular, Lu Ann Simms dolls were a best-seller. Stemming from French and Spanish origins, Mikel is an alternate form of Michael and was popular among Spanish athletes.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Cory (gained 273 places)
--- Rank in 1953:#900 (63 babies born)
--- Rank in 1954:#627 (139 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kimberlee (gained 229 places)
--- Rank in 1953:#987 (94 babies born)
--- Rank in 1954:#758 (151 babies born)
Cory stems from Irish origins as an alternate spelling of Corey, meaning “from the hollow.” Actress Kim Novak was beginning her rise to success in 1954 and may have brought some attention to the name Kimberlee as an alternate spelling. The name Kimberley comes from a town in South Africa, named after Lord Kimberley.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Wyatt (gained 327 places)
--- Rank in 1954:#984 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1955:#657 (124 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Desiree (gained 675 places)
--- Rank in 1954:#984 (98 babies born)
--- Rank in 1955:#309 (768 babies born)
From English origins, meaning “brave in war,” Wyatt may have gotten a slight bump from Wyatt Emory Cooper, an author and actor in the early '50s—25 years after the death of a well-known Wyatt, lawman Wyatt Earp. Desiree jumped up 675 spots on the Social Security list on the back of the 1954 release of a hit movie of the same name. Derived from French, meaning “desire,” Jean Simmons portrayed Desiree Cleary in the film, the love interest of fame ruler Napoleon, played by Marlon Brando.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Elvis (gained 554 places)
--- Rank in 1955:#913 (66 babies born)
--- Rank in 1956:#359 (419 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Cindi (gained 282 places)
--- Rank in 1955:#903 (118 babies born)
--- Rank in 1956:#621 (239 babies born)
It isn’t difficult to surmise why the name Elvis shot up in popularity in 1956, as the “King of Rock and Roll” was skyrocketing to fame in early 1956. The release of “Heartbreak Hotel” in early 1956 saw Elvis hold the #1 song, #1 album, and a fresh new Hollywood contract. Cindi is derived from the name Cynthia, Greek for a “woman from Kynthos.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Mitch (gained 325 places)
--- Rank in 1956:#863 (75 babies born)
--- Rank in 1957:#538 (208 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Tami (gained 565 places)
--- Rank in 1956:#880 (128 babies born)
--- Rank in 1957:#315 (851 babies born)
A shortened form of Mitchell, Mitch drew some attention as one of the principal characters in the Broadway play and 1951 film, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” A variant of Tammy and Tamara, Tami spiked 565 places in 1957, perhaps on the back of the song “Tammy,” which won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1957 from the movie “Tammy and the Bachelor” starring Debbie Reynolds.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Darren (gained 506 places)
--- Rank in 1957:#885 (73 babies born)
--- Rank in 1958:#379 (418 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Justine (gained 368 places)
--- Rank in 1957:#988 (110 babies born)
--- Rank in 1958:#620 (253 babies born)
Darren McGavin was rising to stardom in the late 1950s, lending credit to the name, which is of Irish origins, meaning “little great one.” McGavin’s role in the hit show “Mike Hammer” helped the spike in Darrens, though he is best remembered as the surly father from “A Christmas Story.” A feminized form of Justin, meaning “fair, righteous,” Justine rose to fame in 1957 as the name of the first of four novels in Lawrence Durrell’s “The Alexandria Quartet.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Ty (gained 260 places)
--- Rank in 1958:#827 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1959:#567 (188 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Gigi (gained 296 places)
--- Rank in 1958:#925 (124 babies born)
--- Rank in 1959:#629 (251 babies born)
The 1958 musical film “Gigi” received strong reviews and is considered the last great musical, winning a then-record nine Academy Awards in 1959. French in origin, Gigi would fall out of the top 1000 names altogether by 1966. Ty crosses multiple names as a shortened form of Tyson, Tyler or Tyrone, the name is probably most notoriously remembered for professional baseball player Ty Cobb.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Darin (gained 328 places)
--- Rank in 1959:#776 (97 babies born)
--- Rank in 1960:#448 (324 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Alesia (gained 382 places)
--- Rank in 1959:#894 (135 babies born)
--- Rank in 1960:#512 (352 babies born)
“Splish Splash” in 1958 began to push the name Darin up the boys’ list, while follow up hits from singer Bobby Darin making it the fastest mover in 1960. Bobby Darin would be the youngest performer to headline in Las Vegas. A derivative of Alice, the name Alesia spiked from 1959–66 when it disappeared from the charts altogether, minus a one-year return in 1984.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Lars (gained 238 places)
--- Rank in 1960:#974 (61 babies born)
--- Rank in 1961:#736 (110 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kara (gained 358 places)
--- Rank in 1960:#910 (135 babies born)
--- Rank in 1961:#552 (319 babies born)
A Scandanavian form of Laurence, Lars today is associated with Metallica rocker Lars Ulrich, who was born in 1963, two years after Lars’ big bump. Kara is an adaptation of Cara, meaning “love,” with roots in Irish and Latin. In Norse mythology, though, Kara takes on a different meaning, “stormy one,” as one of the Valkyrie that escorts the dead to Valhalla.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Pernell (gained 244 places)
--- Rank in 1961:#928 (68 babies born)
--- Rank in 1962:#684 (128 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Lolita (gained 407 places)
--- Rank in 1961:#977 (122 babies born)
--- Rank in 1962:#570 (298 babies born)
Actor Pernell Roberts helped his name rise on the list, starring in the hit TV show “Bonanza” beginning in 1959 before leaving the show in 1965. The 1962 Stanley Kubrick film “Lolita,” starring James Mason and Peter Sellers, partially helped precipitate a 400-plus spot rise for the name. The book of the same name, on which Kubrick’s movie was based, also contributed by rising to classic status shortly after its 1955 release.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Kennedy (gained 204 places)
--- Rank in 1962:#825 (85 babies born)
--- Rank in 1963:#621 (158 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Zina (gained 622 places)
--- Rank in 1962:#992 (117 babies born)
--- Rank in 1963:#370 (678 babies born)
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, undoubtedly spurred a late-year push in the name Kennedy. His death in Dallas, Texas, was the fourth murder of a president while in office. Zina Bethune brought attention to the Russian name Zina in the early 1960s as a child star, with future famous Zina, tennis player Garrison, joining the world in 1963.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Lyndon (gained 246 places)
--- Rank in 1963:#593 (176 babies born)
--- Rank in 1964:#347 (514 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Vonda (gained 372 places)
--- Rank in 1963:#769 (180 babies born)
--- Rank in 1964:#397 (602 babies born)
JFK’s assassination also helped Lyndon make the list for the second time (1941), as Vice President Lyndon Johnson assumed the presidency following Kennedy's death. Johnson was popular when he first took office, but his approval ratings faded, similarly to the name’s usage in the late 1960s. Vonda, the Polish form of Wanda, spiked in the mid-60s after actress and beauty queen Vonda Kay Van Dyke was rising to win the Miss America title in 1965.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jayson (gained 219 places)
--- Rank in 1964:#992 (58 babies born)
--- Rank in 1965:#773 (91 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Mia (gained 302 places)
--- Rank in 1964:#568 (300 babies born)
--- Rank in 1965:#266 (1,053 babies born)
Mia finds its origins in Italian and Scandinavian, meaning “mine,” and has been in the top 10 since 2011. Its increase in 1965 coincided with the stardom of actress Mia Farrow, who exploded in fame as Allison MacKenzie from the prime time soap “Peyton Place.” An alternate spelling for Jason, derived from Greek for “healer,” Jayson didn’t enter name hood until 1963, but remains in the top 500 to this day.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jared (gained 270 places)
--- Rank in 1965:#746 (99 babies born)
--- Rank in 1966:#476 (259 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Mechelle (gained 356 places)
--- Rank in 1965:#939 (118 babies born)
--- Rank in 1966:#583 (262 babies born)
Jared, from Hebrew descent, rose in usage in 1966 as an alternate spelling for Jarrod. The name was made famous by Jarrod Barkley, one of the main characters on the ABC television show “The Big Valley.” Mechelle probably saw a spike courtesy of the Beatles, who sang a portion of their 1965 single “Michelle” in French. Derived from Michelle, and meaning “who is like God,” Mechelle had fallen out of favor completely by 1975.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jamey (gained 196 places)
--- Rank in 1966:#900 (64 babies born)
--- Rank in 1967:#704 (110 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Lara (gained 339 places)
--- Rank in 1966:#616 (237 babies born)
--- Rank in 1967:#277 (945 babies born)
The 1965 hit movie “Doctor Zhivago” brought Lara much attention, as the love interest of the title character. The anti-Soviet film is among the highest grossing films of all time. A variant of James or Jamie, which come from Hebrew-Scottish origins, Jamey would reach its peak in 1976, the only year it appeared as a girl’s name as well.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Robb (gained 251 places)
--- Rank in 1967:#768 (90 babies born)
--- Rank in 1968:#517 (214 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Angelique (gained 402 places)
--- Rank in 1967:#716 (186 babies born)
--- Rank in 1968:#314 (764 babies born)
Angelique draws its roots from Dutch and French, and was ultimately derived from the Latin word for angelic. The popular movie “Angelique and the Sultan” debuted in 1968 as the fifth and final movie stemming from the “Angelique” French novel series. The rise of Robb may have been in homage to Capt. Charles Robb, a company commander in Vietnam and future son-in-law of President Lyndon Johnson.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Darian (gained 358 places)
--- Rank in 1968:#989 (56 babies born)
--- Rank in 1969:#631 (157 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Nichole (gained 383 places)
--- Rank in 1968:#696 (194 babies born)
--- Rank in 1969:#313 (816 babies born)
An Eastern European take on the name Nicole, meaning “victory of the people,” Nichole reached the top 100 in the early 1980s before falling off the list completely in 2007. Meaning “upholder of the good,” Darian draws its roots from Persian as a nickname for the ancient king Darius.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jade (gained 228 places)
--- Rank in 1969:#988 (60 babies born)
--- Rank in 1970:#760 (118 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Misti (gained 235 places)
--- Rank in 1969:#836 (153 babies born)
--- Rank in 1970:#601 (290 babies born)
Misti may have gained ground as an alternate spelling to Misty, which was popularized in the mid-50s through a jazz song by Errol Garner. Jade, the name created after a stone of the same name, has morphed into a mostly feminine one today.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jermaine (gained 387 places)
--- Rank in 1970:#620 (171 babies born)
--- Rank in 1971:#233 (1,015 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Tanisha (gained 468 places)
--- Rank in 1970:#974 (129 babies born)
--- Rank in 1971:#506 (374 babies born)
Jermaine moved its way up the list in 1971 thanks to the wild popularity of the Jackson 5, and co-lead singer Jermaine Jackson. The group’s first four singles all hit #1 on the Billboard charts, with Jermaine going on to find solo success later in the '70s. Actress Ta-Tanisha appeared in the comedy-drama “Room 222” for three seasons from 1970–72, giving rise to the Sanskrit-based name among the African American community.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Toriano (gained 241 places)
--- Rank in 1971:#928 (77 babies born)
--- Rank in 1972:#687 (135 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Latoya (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 1971:#905 (145 babies born)
--- Rank in 1972:#559 (296 babies born)
The Jackson 5 helped another name dance up the charts in 1972, as sister La Toya brought attention to the name even though she wouldn’t enter show business until 1974. A variation of Torin, an Irish name meaning “chief,” Toriano spent a grand total of three years in the Social Security Top 1,000 names, falling out in 1974.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Rahsaan (gained 213 places)
--- Rank in 1972:#958 (71 babies born)
--- Rank in 1973:#745 (116 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Tracee (gained 435 places)
--- Rank in 1972:#970 (124 babies born)
--- Rank in 1973:#535 (313 babies born)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an influential blind jazz performer whose career began in the late '50s, and who later became an activist in the early '70s. The birth of one Tracee in 1972, Tracee Ellis Ross, to megastar Diana Ross, set off a surge in the name in 1973. Tracee Ellis Ross would win her first Golden Globe in 2017, for Best Actress while starring in the television show “Black-ish.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Landon (gained 165 places)
--- Rank in 1973:#878 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1974:#713 (133 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Jolene (gained 317 places)
--- Rank in 1973:#562 (293 babies born)
--- Rank in 1974:#245 (1,052 babies born)
“Little House on the Prairie” premiered in 1974, and its leading man, Michael Landon, who had previously found TV fame in “Bonanza,” helped bring attention to Landon as a first name. Dolly Parton inspired the use of the name Jolene, after her song of the same name hit the airwaves at the end of 1973.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Abdul (gained 240 places)
--- Rank in 1974:#897 (81 babies born)
--- Rank in 1975:#657 (157 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Mandi (gained 635 places)
--- Rank in 1974:#967 (127 babies born)
--- Rank in 1975:#332 (669 babies born)
Abdul finds its roots in Arabic, meaning “servant of Allah,” and has strong roots in Islam as the father of the Prophet Mohammed. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s trade from Minnesota to Los Angeles in 1975 may have given the name a slight bump as well. A variation of Amanda and Mandy, meaning “worthy of love,” climbed the charts along with Barry Manilow’s first #1 hit “Mandy” in late 1974.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Deangelo (gained 185 places)
--- Rank in 1975:#951 (74 babies born)
--- Rank in 1976:#766 (117 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Jayme (gained 283 places)
--- Rank in 1975:#702 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1976:#419 (480 babies born)
Derived from Italian meaning “from the angel,” the singer D’Angelo is probably the most recognizable personality to sport the name, though he was born in 1974, one year before it made the top 1,000. A Spanish-Hebrew variation of James, Jayme gained traction in 1976 thanks to “The Bionic Woman,” whose character Jaime Sommers, portrayed by Lindsay Wagner, helped give the name a bump.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Rashad (gained 328 places)
--- Rank in 1976:#781 (112 babies born)
--- Rank in 1977:#453 (311 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Sommer (gained 408 places)
--- Rank in 1976:#849 (161 babies born)
--- Rank in 1977:#441 (464 babies born)
“The Bionic Woman” may have struck again in 1977, as Sommer rose, perhaps again as the last name of character Jaime Sommers. Meaning “summer” in Dutch and German, Sommer had faded out of use by the early '80s, only to pop up for one more year in the mid-90s. Rashad is one of the more popular Arabic names, meaning “having good judgment,” and a number of well-known athletes have helped keep the name relevant today:UFC fighter Rashad Evans and footballer Rashad Jennings.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Conor (gained 254 places)
--- Rank in 1977:#938 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1978:#684 (150 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Lacy (gained 450 places)
--- Rank in 1977:#891 (159 babies born)
--- Rank in 1978:#441 (453 babies born)
Steeped in Irish roots, Conor translates to “lover of hounds,” the name possibly got a bump from the novel “Trinity” in 1976, as the name of the main character, Conor Larkin. It could have also been in relation to two famous men with a variation as their surname:tennis legend Jimmy Connors and “All in the Family” actor Carroll O’Connor. Lacy is derived from a town in Normandy, France and was primarily a male name until the mid-70s.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jonah (gained 244 places)
--- Rank in 1978:#647 (168 babies born)
--- Rank in 1979:#403 (391 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Brianne (gained 593 places)
--- Rank in 1978:#761 (202 babies born)
--- Rank in 1979:#168 (1,662 babies born)
The made-for-TV movie “And Your Name is Jonah,” starring Sally Struthers and James Woods hit the airwaves 1979 and helped the biblical name more than double in usage. Brianne, a feminine form of Brian, exploded in popularity, with an additional 1,460 babies born in 1979. Actress Brianne Leary, who got her start as a contestant and later a celebrity panelist on “Match Game” and would have a recurring role as Officer Sindy Cahill on the show “CHiPS” in 1979, is likely to have contributed to the name’s surge in popularity.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Bo (gained 297 places)
--- Rank in 1979:#864 (101 babies born)
--- Rank in 1980:#567 (232 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Loni (gained 415 places)
--- Rank in 1979:#985 (145 babies born)
--- Rank in 1980:#570 (325 babies born)
The Duke boys helped drive the name Bo up the list in 1980, as the show “The Dukes of Hazzard” was in its second season following the exploits of Bo and Luke Duke. A female Bo, Bo Derek was coming off the success of the 1979 movie “10” and posed for Playboy in 1980. Loni Anderson was starring in “WKRP Cincinnati” from 1978–82, earning her multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations as receptionist Jennifer Marlow.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Tristan (gained 186 places)
--- Rank in 1980:#601 (209 babies born)
--- Rank in 1981:#415 (399 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Blair (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 1980:#893 (170 babies born)
--- Rank in 1981:#524 (372 babies born)
Actors Christopher Waltz starred in the 1981 romantic drama “Tristan and Isolde” bringing notice to the Irish name, which means “noise or sorrowful.” Following a rough start from 1979–80, “The Facts of Life,” along with Blair Warner as one of the main characters, began to take off in 1981, lending increased popularity to the name. The Gaelic name, meaning “plain, battlefield,” became primarily a feminine name after that.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Chase (gained 365 places)
--- Rank in 1981:#610 (196 babies born)
--- Rank in 1982:#245 (937 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kayla (gained 448 places)
--- Rank in 1981:#581 (318 babies born)
--- Rank in 1982:#133 (2,274 babies born)
A fictional character on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” spurred the bump in Kaylas in 1982. Kayla Brady, the good girl in the series, made her debut in 1982 and is still a main character in the show today, portrayed by Mary Beth Evans since 1986. Originally a nickname for a hunter in Middle English, Chase may have gotten a bump from actor Chevy Chase, who starred in “Caddyshack” the year prior.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jameson (gained 303 places)
--- Rank in 1982:#765 (131 babies born)
--- Rank in 1983:#462 (328 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Trista (gained 681 places)
--- Rank in 1982:#966 (153 babies born)
--- Rank in 1983:#285 (822 babies born)
Trista Evans Bradford was murdered by the Salem Slasher on the hit television soap opera “Days of Our Lives” in 1983. The feminine version of Tristan, meaning “sorrowful,” peaked in 1984 before gradually fading out of use. From English meaning “son of James,” Jameson moved into the top 100 in 2018.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Shea (gained 312 places)
--- Rank in 1983:#849 (106 babies born)
--- Rank in 1984:#537 (257 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Jena (gained 433 places)
--- Rank in 1983:#860 (177 babies born)
--- Rank in 1984:#427 (492 babies born)
The “stately, dauntless one” Shea draws its roots from Ireland, and actor John Shea may have helped contribute to the name’s success with his breakthrough role in “Windy City” in 1984. Jena can be used as a diminutive of Jennifer but also has Arabic roots meaning “paradise.” “Hunger Games” actress Jena Malone was among the additional 315 Jenas born in 1984.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Griffin (gained 261 places)
--- Rank in 1984:#986 (81 babies born)
--- Rank in 1985:#725 (148 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Sierra (gained 503 places)
--- Rank in 1984:#717 (230 babies born)
--- Rank in 1985:#214 (1,200 babies born)
Griffin, meaning “strong lord” in its Latin roots, possibly gained attention from actor Griffin Dunne, who starred in the 1985 Martin Scorsese film “After Hours.” Dunne currently is a featured character in the NBC show “This Is Us” as Nicky Pearson. Spanish meaning both “saw” and “mountain range,” Sierra is still in use today after reaching the top 100 in the early 1990s.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Dakota (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 1985:#857 (110 babies born)
--- Rank in 1986:#488 (320 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Nikita (gained 706 places)
--- Rank in 1985:#956 (162 babies born)
--- Rank in 1986:#250 (1,034 babies born)
Dakota, meaning “friendly one,” traces its roots to the Native American people that inhabited the northern Mississippi valley. The name joined the SSA list in 1985 and remained in the top 400 as both a boys and girls name from 1988–2018. The 1985 Elton John song “Nikita” helped spur the Russian name, meaning “victor,” to add over 800 babies to its ranks that year.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Spenser (gained 370 places)
--- Rank in 1986:#947 (93 babies born)
--- Rank in 1987:#577 (248 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kaila (gained 302 places)
--- Rank in 1986:#909 (177 babies born)
--- Rank in 1987:#607 (318 babies born)
The television show “Spenser:For Hire” starring Robert Urich was critically acclaimed but had only average ratings during its three-year stint on TV from 1985–88. Likewise, the name Spenser had a short run, falling out of favor altogether by 1997. Meaning “laurel,” Kaila jumped 302 spots in 1987, perhaps as an alternate spelling for the “Days of Our Lives” favorite Kayla Brady, who reappeared on the series in 1986 after a four-year hiatus.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Irving (gained 375 places)
--- Rank in 1987:#897 (109 babies born)
--- Rank in 1988:#522 (304 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Jerica (gained 235 places)
--- Rank in 1987:#826 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1988:#591 (341 babies born)
From a Scottish surname meaning “green river,” Irving was a top 100 name in the early 1900s. The name was reinvigorated in 1988 after an Emmy-winning special featuring Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles celebrated renowned songwriter Irving Berlin’s 100th birthday. The name Jerica, a mashup of Jeri and Erica, spent just seven years in the top 1,000, but may have gotten a boost as an alternate spelling to the main character in the show “Jem and the Holograms,” Jerrica Benton.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Nico (gained 440 places)
--- Rank in 1988:#986 (96 babies born)
--- Rank in 1989:#546 (314 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kiara (gained 704 places)
--- Rank in 1988:#818 (222 babies born)
--- Rank in 1989:#114 (2,624 babies born)
Steven Seagal made his film debut in 1988 as former CIA agent-turned-Chicago cop Nico Toscani in “Above the Law,” perhaps prompting a 440-spot spike in usage. The name Kiara came into existence as a name in 1988, and saw nearly 2,500 babies added to its ranks in 1989 after the song “This Time” by the R&B duo Kiara featuring Shanice hit #2 on the charts.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Gage (gained 395 places)
--- Rank in 1989:#755 (171 babies born)
--- Rank in 1990:#360 (666 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Shaniqua (gained 623 places)
--- Rank in 1989:#950 (186 babies born)
--- Rank in 1990:#327 (842 babies born)
The 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary” helped spur the name Gage’s success in 1990. Miko Hughes portrayed 3-year-old Gage Creed, the adorable-turned-nightmarish character at the center of the story. The 1990 release of the single “Shaniqua” by Oran “Juice” Jones helped spur the use of the name, although its popularity would fade by 1995.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Codie (gained 232 places)
--- Rank in 1990:#933 (122 babies born)
--- Rank in 1991:#701 (208 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Iesha (gained 574 places)
--- Rank in 1990:#731 (285 babies born)
--- Rank in 1991:#157 (1,896 babies born)
Codie may have gotten a boost off the success of variant Cody, which climbed into the top 25 names for boys in 1991. Cody Lambert was a character on the show “Step by Step,” which premiered in 1991. The group Another Bad Creation was the object of many young girls’ affections and made the name Iesha jump nearly 600 spots with their soulful love song of the same name.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Devante (gained 720 places)
--- Rank in 1991:#919 (131 babies born)
--- Rank in 1992:#199 (1,565 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Bria (gained 654 places)
--- Rank in 1991:#988 (190 babies born)
--- Rank in 1992:#334 (801 babies born)
DeVante Swing was one of the founding members of the group Jodeci, which found success with their debut album, “Forever My Lady” in 1991. From Italian origin, meaning “liveliness,” Bria jumped over 600 spots perhaps as a result of comedian Eddie Murphy and his wife choosing this name for their daughter a few years earlier.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Juwan (gained 285 places)
--- Rank in 1992:#961 (125 babies born)
--- Rank in 1993:#676 (230 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Anissa (gained 438 places)
--- Rank in 1992:#852 (233 babies born)
--- Rank in 1993:#414 (601 babies born)
The University of Michigan men’s basketball team received a lot of attention for their NCAA Tournament finals appearance in 1993. One of the leaders of the “Fab Five” was Juwan Howard, one of the top players in the nation, and future #5 pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. Anissa Ayala, a young girl diagnosed with leukemia, brought the name recognition with the 1993 TV movie “For the Love of my Child" in which her parents have another child for the purpose of bone marrow donation.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Shaquan (gained 243 places)
--- Rank in 1993:#905 (141 babies born)
--- Rank in 1994:#662 (244 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Khadijah (gained 360 places)
--- Rank in 1993:#544 (435 babies born)
--- Rank in 1994:#184 (1,615 babies born)
Rap produced another popular name in 1994, and while the Wu-Tang Clan was revolutionizing music with the release of “Enter the Wu-Tang,” main member Method Man, aka Shaquan, was pushing the name up the charts. The name Khadijah has a rich history as an Arabic name as the first wife and convert of the Prophet Muhammad. It spiked in popularity in 1994 thanks to the show “Living Single,” and its main character, Khadijah James, portrayed by Queen Latifah.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Bailey (gained 492 places)
--- Rank in 1994:#769 (187 babies born)
--- Rank in 1995:#277 (1,010 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Deja (gained 619 places)
--- Rank in 1994:#824 (245 babies born)
--- Rank in 1995:#205 (1,420 babies born)
Actor Scott Wolf brought vast attention to the name Bailey in 1995, starring in the hit television show “Party of Five” as Bailey Salinger. Pop culture struck again that year, as supermodel Tyra Banks made her acting debut in a supporting role for the 1995 John Singleton film “Higher Learning,” playing the part of Deja.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Dangelo (gained 350 places)
--- Rank in 1995:#740 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1996:#390 (604 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Keely (gained 401 places)
--- Rank in 1995:#919 (205 babies born)
--- Rank in 1996:#518 (454 babies born)
Rap and R&B played an influential role in the 1990s naming books, with singer D’Angelo popularizing the name after the release of his multi-platinum record “Brown Sugar” in 1995. Keely Shaye Smith may have nudged her name northward on the list as a correspondent for the show “Unsolved Mysteries” and the then-girlfriend and future wife to Pierce Brosnan, who had been cast as James Bond the year before.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jarod (gained 376 places)
--- Rank in 1996:#723 (216 babies born)
--- Rank in 1997:#347 (738 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Julissa (gained 564 places)
--- Rank in 1996:#783 (265 babies born)
--- Rank in 1997:#219 (1,355 babies born)
The television series “The Pretender” featured a young genius named Jarod who could adapt quickly to his surroundings. While the show would last four years, the name Jarod, which debuted in 1971, would get canceled itself in 2004. A mashup of Julie and Lisa, Julissa bumped up the charts in 1997 thanks to success in Texas, possibly from its Latin American roots.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Dawson (gained 559 places)
--- Rank in 1997:#734 (209 babies born)
--- Rank in 1998:#175 (1,895 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Mya (gained 755 places)
--- Rank in 1997:#993 (196 babies born)
--- Rank in 1998:#238 (1,284 babies born)
Meaning “son of David,” Dawson shot up the list as the title character from the smash television show “Dawson’s Creek,” which premiered in 1998. James van der Beek portrayed Dawson, while the show also helped launch the careers of Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and future Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. Singer Mýa did even more for her name, as her eponymous album went platinum in 1998, likely inspiring at least some of the 1,000 new Myas to the world in the process.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Zion (gained 420 places)
--- Rank in 1998:#694 (242 babies born)
--- Rank in 1999:#274 (1,070 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Felicity (gained 428 places)
--- Rank in 1998:#818 (260 babies born)
--- Rank in 1999:#390 (717 babies born)
With origins in Hebrew, Zion got a big boost from rapper Lauryn Hill, who named her son Zion in 1997, and featured the song “To Zion” on her 1997 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Basketball superstar Zion Williamson is probably the most recognizable person with the name today, though he was born in 2000, one year after the Zion push. The television show “Felicity” starring Keri Russell premiered in 1998 and helped push the name, meaning “happiness,” up the list in 1999.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Axel (gained 438 places)
--- Rank in 1999:#799 (191 babies born)
--- Rank in 2000:#361 (732 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Layla (gained 247 places)
--- Rank in 1999:#654 (351 babies born)
--- Rank in 2000:#407 (697 babies born)
Meaning “father of peace,” Axel draws its roots from Danish and Hebrew as an alternate for Absalom, the son of King David in the Old Testament. From Arabic for “night,” Layla had taken a few years off the list since Eric Clapton made it a household name in the early 1970s with a song of the same name.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Maximus (gained 538 places)
--- Rank in 2000:#849 (188 babies born)
--- Rank in 2001:#311 (892 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Nayeli (gained 430 places)
--- Rank in 2000:#605 (418 babies born)
--- Rank in 2001:#175 (1,845 babies born)
Derived from a Roman surname, meaning “greatest,” Maximus Decimus Meridius inspired a slew of new little warriors after Russell Crowe’s protagonist from the 2000 hit movie “Gladiator.” Nayeli gets its roots from Zapotec culture in Mexico, meaning “I love you,” and was a popular name among the growing Mexican population in the Southwest.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Caiden (gained 296 places)
--- Rank in 2001:#978 (157 babies born)
--- Rank in 2002:#682 (269 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Ashanti (gained 710 places)
--- Rank in 2001:#825 (281 babies born)
--- Rank in 2002:#115 (2,945 babies born)
Ashanti took the world by storm in 2002, shortly after the singer of the same name dropped her self-titled album. From Ghanian for “warlike,” Ashanti’s album had the best-selling opening of any female artist to that point. Caiden is an American take on the Irish surname Caden, meaning “son of Caden,” and capitalized on the popularity of such names as Aiden and Jayden.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Yahir (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 2002:#604 (334 babies born)
--- Rank in 2003:#258 (1,274 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Cadence (gained 482 places)
--- Rank in 2002:#958 (232 babies born)
--- Rank in 2003:#476 (620 babies born)
Mexican pop singer and telenovela star Yahir had a #1 hit in Mexico with “Alucinado” in 2003, inspiring hundreds of Mexican American parents to choose the name. The “American Pie” series helped give rise to the musical name Cadence, meaning “rhythm, flow,” in 2003 with the movie “American Wedding.” Actress January Jones portrayed Cadence Flaherty in the film.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Jase (gained 351 places)
--- Rank in 2003:#971 (165 babies born)
--- Rank in 2004:#620 (344 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kaydence (gained 607 places)
--- Rank in 2003:#984 (234 babies born)
--- Rank in 2004:#377 (830 babies born)
A spelling variant of Cadence, Kaydence took off one year later, perhaps inspired by the same January Jones character in “American Wedding.” Jase works as a shortened version of Jason, Hebrew for “healer,” and caught on in 2004, doubling the propensity toward the name.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Braylon (gained 345 places)
--- Rank in 2004:#705 (272 babies born)
--- Rank in 2005:#360 (816 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Emerson (gained 461 places)
--- Rank in 2004:#903 (268 babies born)
--- Rank in 2005:#442 (683 babies born)
University of Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards was the #3 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, helping his name reach the charts for the first time in 2004. From German for “son of Emery,” the name drew popularity in 2005, perhaps in part as the name of “Desperate Housewives” actress Teri Hatcher’s daughter, Emerson Tenney.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Cash (gained 299 places)
--- Rank in 2005:#679 (308 babies born)
--- Rank in 2006:#380 (787 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Ayla (gained 401 places)
--- Rank in 2005:#666 (416 babies born)
--- Rank in 2006:#265 (1,232 babies born)
Johnny Cash inspired increased usage of the name Cash, with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the black-clad singer in 2005’s “Walk the Line.” Ayla comes from Turkish-Hebrew, meaning “oak, tree or halo, moonlight” and got a bump in 2006 from Ayla Brown, a popular contestant on the fifth season of "American Idol."
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Kingston (gained 573 places)
--- Rank in 2006:#927 (203 babies born)
--- Rank in 2007:#354 (893 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Abril (gained 411 places)
--- Rank in 2006:#849 (316 babies born)
--- Rank in 2007:#438 (737 babies born)
Mega pop star Gwen Stefani and rocker-husband Gavin Rossdale set off a surge by naming their son Kingston in 2007. Kingston stems from an Old English surname that means “King’s town.” The Spanish and Catalan form of April, Abril emerged in 2006 as a name, perhaps in part to Vanessa Gomez’s character in the Mexican telenovela “Amor Mio.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Gauge (gained 253 places)
--- Rank in 2007:#987 (198 babies born)
--- Rank in 2008:#734 (311 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Khloe (gained 467 places)
--- Rank in 2007:#663 (446 babies born)
--- Rank in 2008:#196 (1,711 babies born)
The Kardashian clan worked its way onto the list as inspiration for the name Khloe gaining such traction in 2008. The wildly popular “Keeping up with the Kardashians” premiered in 2007 with youngest sister Khloe playing a starring role. Gauge, taken from the tool for measuring, saw a little spurt as an alternate spelling for Gage, which was in the top 150 names for boys that year as well.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Bentley (gained 425 places)
--- Rank in 2008:#939 (216 babies born)
--- Rank in 2009:#514 (522 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Maliyah (gained 344 places)
--- Rank in 2008:#640 (481 babies born)
--- Rank in 2009:#296 (1,116 babies born)
Maliyah may have gotten a bump as an alternate spelling to Malia after the daughter of President Barack Obama, who was sworn into office in 2009. Bentley kicked off a quick ascension up the naming charts thanks to the premiere of the MTV show “16 and Pregnant.” The show followed expectant mother Maci Bookout and the birth of her son, Bentley.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Bentley (gained 414 places)
--- Rank in 2009:#514 (522 babies born)
--- Rank in 2010:#100 (3,769 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Maci (gained 426 places)
--- Rank in 2009:#657 (450 babies born)
--- Rank in 2010:#231 (1,354 babies born)
MTV accounted for both names moving up the list, with “Teen Mom” picking up where “16 and Pregnant” left off. The show continued to follow 19-year-old Maci Bookout and ex Ryan Edwards as they co-exist while co-parenting their 2-year-old son, Bentley. The two-year run for the name Bentley saw an additional 3,553 baby boys added to its total.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Brantley (gained 414 places)
--- Rank in 2010:#735 (311 babies born)
--- Rank in 2011:#321 (988 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Briella (gained 395 places)
--- Rank in 2010:#893 (296 babies born)
--- Rank in 2011:#498 (592 babies born)
Country singer Brantley Gilbert had a #1 hit in 2010 with “Country Music Must be Country Wide,” lending a push to the name. He followed with another chart-topping hit, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” in December. From Hebrew meaning “God is my strength,” the shortened form of Gabriella, hairdresser Briella Calafiore brought recognition to the name after the premiere of the Style Network’s “Jerseylicious” in 2010.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Major (gained 503 places)
--- Rank in 2011:#989 (197 babies born)
--- Rank in 2012:#486 (555 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Malaysia (gained 389 places)
--- Rank in 2011:#959 (266 babies born)
--- Rank in 2012:#570 (513 babies born)
Major draws its roots from either the military rank, or the Old French form of the Germanic name Malger, meaning “Council spear.” The death of R&B singer Major Harris, who had a few hits in the '70s, in 2012 may have had a small impact on the name’s popularity, as did football player Major Applewhite. Malaysias get their name from the country of the same name, meaning “to steadily accelerate or run.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Thiago (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 2012:#857 (246 babies born)
--- Rank in 2013:#488 (561 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Everly (gained 523 places)
--- Rank in 2012:#902 (289 babies born)
--- Rank in 2013:#379 (816 babies born)
A variant of Tiago, which is the Portuguese form of James, Thiago has found fame on the soccer pitch. Thiago Silva made a much-publicized transfer between European teams in 2012 and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi used the name for his first son. Meaning “wild boar in woodland clearing,” Everly got a boost as the name chosen by actor Channing Tatum and model Jenna Dewan for their daughter in 2013.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Gannon (gained 425 places)
--- Rank in 2013:#839 (254 babies born)
--- Rank in 2014:#414 (749 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Daleyza (gained 359 places)
--- Rank in 2013:#587 (485 babies born)
--- Rank in 2014:#228 (1,466 babies born)
MTV helped push the name Gannon up the naming charts in 2013, featuring former “16 and Pregnant” star Mackenzie McKee and her son, Gannon, on “Teen Mom 3.” The name Daleyzia was made popular by Mexican American singer Larry Hernandez, the star of “Larrymania” on NBC Universo, who reportedly invented the name for his first daughter.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Kaison (gained 245 places)
--- Rank in 2014:#977 (214 babies born)
--- Rank in 2015:#732 (332 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Ariyah (gained 330 places)
--- Rank in 2014:#937 (287 babies born)
--- Rank in 2015:#607 (478 babies born)
Derived from Hebrew, Ariyah may have gained ground as a spelling variant of Arya, a top-200 name in 2015. The character Arya Stark from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” helped give both names a bump. Kaison is a variant of Cason, tracing back to Old Norse, meaning “enclosure.”
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Adonis (gained 306 places)
--- Rank in 2015:#701 (358 babies born)
--- Rank in 2016:#395 (801 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Ophelia (gained 396 places)
--- Rank in 2015:#976 (276 babies born)
--- Rank in 2016:#580 (532 babies born)
Meaning “lord,” Adonis was the pinnacle of masculine beauty, and is one of many names from Greek mythology on the rise in 2016. Also derived from Greek, Ophelia saw a slight spike thanks in part to the band The Lumineers, who had a hit song in 2015 with “Ophelia.” Rock star Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters named his daughter Ophelia in 2014.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Kashton (gained 303 places)
--- Rank in 2016:#942 (221 babies born)
--- Rank in 2017:#639 (401 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Kehlani (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 2016:#868 (322 babies born)
--- Rank in 2017:#522 (596 babies born)
Singer Kehlani brought notice to the name in 2015, earning a Grammy nomination for her second mixtape “You Should Be Here,” and released her first official album in 2017. Kashton saw no change in usage from 2015–16, before jumping in 2017, perhaps with Cash or Kash in mind as a shortened version.
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- Boys name that gained the most popularity:Kairo (gained 321 places)
--- Rank in 2017:#803 (282 babies born)
--- Rank in 2018:#482 (605 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity:Oaklynn (gained 344 places)
--- Rank in 2017:#885 (304 babies born)
--- Rank in 2018:#541 (572 babies born)
A variant of Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, which is Arabic for “the victorious,” Kairo is the third K name in the last five years to claim the top mover spot. Oakley and Oaklyn also made major gains in 2018, but not as much as Oaklynn, which added 268 members to its ranks.
