baby names

[rose_griffes]

The name mapper function on this website is insanely addictive. You can type in a name and it will map its use for newborns over the past five decade. (Use => within the top one hundred most common boy/girl names for an American state.)

After the whole realization about weird Mormon baby names, I put in the first name I could think of that I'd heard at church before anywhere else--Braden. It cracks the top one hundred boy baby names in Utah in 1991. It then travels to Oklahoma's top one hundred in 1994. Braden falls out of Utah's top one hundred in 2003, but by that time it's within the top hundred in nine other states. (Jaden has an almost identical pattern, starting in Utah in 1994.)

I'm fairly certain that neither Braden nor Jaden are 'hybrid' names (like Renesmée)--smashed-up versions of two relatives' names--but they are apparently examples of Mormon-culture names* that have gotten into mainstream US society.
*well... Braden is apparently Gaelic in origin. Jaden might be connected to Jadon, which is reportedly Hebrew in origin. Mormons know how to borrow names from other cultures in a prescient way?** Hm.
**at least with those two names, at any rate

Other observations: wow, the name Laura has really lost a foothold. Rose has too--its last showing on the map is in 1969. My own (real) first name had its big year in 1971 and hasn't shown up on the map since 1996. The name Chloe has had a boom decade, and is within the top one hundred of all fifty states.

For my amusement I tried the name Farrah. It shows up in two states in 1977--and never before or after.

You know, this post actually started as a rant that I have no chocolate at home.

Comments

[palmetto.livejournal.com]

Jennifer was big between 1970-1985. Nobody is shocked by this. My sister's name was also one of the top girl names of that time period. Oh well, at least Mom didn't get creative with spelling.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are worse things than having a common name. The weird spelling thing kinda makes me crazy, as a teacher.

[emmiere.livejournal.com]

You have reminded me of my tragic lack of chocolate too. :(

My parents have sworn to me that my real name was not that popular when they gave it to me. Ha. Ha.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

My parents have sworn to me that my real name was not that popular when they gave it to me. Ha. Ha.

Heh. I was surprised that my own was somewhat popular in the late 60's/early 70's, considering the only famous person with my name was an actress from the 30's and 40's.

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

Ooh, that is very cool. My first name (which I doubt anyone here knows) doesn't show up at all since 1960. When I checked NameVoyager, I saw that it peaked in 1940. Heh. I hate that name, no matter how many times people say, "Oh, it's so pretty!"

Thanks for the link!

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I used the site correctly. Sadly, my name was never in the Top 100. It's okay, though. It was never said on Romper Room's magic mirror, either. The price of being unique. :-)

Patty's a little scary. But she's got a brownie!

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Unique is okay! Honestly, most people like their own name reasonably well, even if it's unusual or spelled strangely. It's just everyone else who has the problem. ;-)

I went and bought chocolate after work today. I deserve it... and Patty is just too scary to accept chocolate from. Heh.

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

My name is one of those chronically top 10 names: not terribly original, but solid and sophisticated. :) Interestingly, my sister has always observed that she's the only person she's ever met of her own age with her name, but that recently it's everywhere. Sure enough, in the 80s it's hardly on the map at all, and now it's in the top 5. It's funny how names come and go. I went to school with tons of Jessicas and Jennifers and Lisas and Michelles, and now all those names seem to be falling out of favor. Meanwhile, there seems to be a resurgence of certain classic names: lots of baby Claires and Isabellas and Emmas.

Odd that I only have a sense of girl's names. I wouldn't begin to know what are popular boy's names these days. Nor did I think to check on the site. Though I'll bet Christopher was very big in the 70s and 80s. It's kind of ridiculous how many Christophers I know!