Commercial for Zena Jeans If you look at the popularity graph for the baby name Zena, you’ll see two conspicuous increases in usage: the first in the 1960s (thanks to an actress named Zina), the second in the 1990s (thanks to a warrior princess named Xena). It’s slightly harder to see that Zena doubled in usage from 1979 to 1980, and sustained that elevated usage for several years: 1983: 47 baby girls named Zena 1982: 58 baby girls named Zena 1981: 54 baby girls named Zena 1980: 51 baby girls named Zena 1979: 24 baby girls named Zena 1978: 28 baby girls named Zena 1977: 24 baby girls named Ze ..read more

Flag of California Sonoma County is the northernmost county in the San Francisco Bay Area region. Last year, Sonoma welcomed 4,463 babies. What were the most popular names among these babies? Olivia and Mateo. Here are Sonoma’s top 50 girl names and top 50+ boy names of 2023: Girl names Olivia, 20 baby girls Camila, 19 (tie) Mia, 19 (tie) Emily, 16 (3-way tie) Mila, 16 (3-way tie) Sophia, 16 (3-way tie) Aurora, 15 (4-way tie) Isabella, 15 (4-way tie) Sofia, 15 (4-way tie) Violet, 15 (4-way tie) Ava, 14 (3-way tie) Gianna, 14 (3-way tie) Isla, 14 (3-way tie) Charlotte, 13 (4-way tie) Emma, 13 ..read more

Condoleezza Rice The curious name Condoleezza was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 2005: 2007: unlisted 2006: unlisted 2005: 5 baby girls named Condoleezza [debut] 2004: unlisted 2003: unlisted Where did it come from? Condoleezza (pronounced kon-dah-LEE-zah) Rice, who, in January of 2005, was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State under George W. Bush. She was the first African-American woman to hold the position. (The two previous office-holders, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell, were the first woman and the first African-American secretaries of state, respectively.) Condoleez ..read more

In the U.S., most of the names given to baby girls end with a vowel sound. And many of the remaining names end with an N-sound. So, what about girl names that end with other sounds? Below is a selection of girl names that end with an R-sound, regardless of last letter. The names are ordered by current popularity. Harper From the English surname, which originally referred to a person who played the harp. Here’s the popularity graph for Harper. Eleanor From the Occitan name Alienor, which may mean “the other Aenor.” Here’s the popularity graph for Eleanor. Claire A French form of the name Clara ..read more

Navarre and Isabeau from “Ladyhawke“ The main character in the medieval fantasy film Ladyhawke (1985) is a young, talkative thief played by Matthew Broderick. But at the heart of the film is a cursed romance between a knight and a lady who are “always together, eternally apart.” Etienne Navarre (played by Dutch actor Rutger Hauer) is human by day, but transforms into a black wolf at night. His lover Isabeau (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), in contrast, is human at night, but transforms into a hawk during the day. Only at the moment of sunrise and sunset are Navarre and Isabeau in human form at t ..read more

Flag of Gibraltar The British overseas territory of Gibraltar — located at the southern tip of Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, just a few miles away from Northern Africa — is home to roughly 32,700 people Last year, Gibraltar welcomed 319 babies — 149 baby girls, and 170 baby boys. (My source article said the final tally was 318, but the full list [PDF] included an extra name.) What were the most popular names among these babies? Ava/Lucia (tie) and Luca. Here are Gibraltar’s top girl names and top boy names of 2023: Girl names Ava and Lucia, 4 baby girls each (tie) Evie, Lily, Olivia, and Sienna ..read more

Mozart from “Amadeus” The name Amadeus — created from the Latin words amare, meaning “to love,” and deus, meaning “god” — can be interpreted as meaning either “lover of god” or “loved by god.” It first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1985: 1987: 17 baby boys named Amadeus 1986: 15 baby boys named Amadeus 1985: 11 baby boys named Amadeus [debut] 1984: unlisted 1983: unlisted What caused the debut? Well, it all starts with famed Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) — specifically, with an unfounded rumor regarding the mysterious circumstances of his premature death at a ..read more

Patron In 1894, the winner of Melbourne Cup — a horse race that’s been held in Australia every year since the early 1860s — was a horse named Patron (ridden by a jockey named Henry Dawes). The day of the race, a baby girl “was born in one of the dressing rooms at Flemington [Racecourse].” Her name? Patrona. Source: “Born at Flemington.” Smith’s Weekly 20 Sept. 1919: 8. Image: Adapted from Patron, 1894 Melbourne Cup winner postcard (public domain ..read more

Anfernee Hardaway The curious name Anfernee debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1992 and reached peak usage in 1996: 1998: 102 baby boys named Anfernee 1997: 171 baby boys named Anfernee [rank: 838th] 1996: 300 baby boys named Anfernee [rank: 597th] 1995: 246 baby boys named Anfernee [rank: 669th] 1994: 84 baby boys named Anfernee 1993: 42 baby boys named Anfernee 1992: 21 baby boys named Anfernee [debut] 1991: unlisted This corresponds to the rise of Tennessee-born basketball player Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. He played for two seasons at Memphis State before being selected third overall i ..read more

Flag of North Carolina In 2023, North Carolina’s Johnston County welcomed 1,931 babies — 950 girls and 981 boys. What were the most popular names among these babies? Charlotte and Liam. Here are Johnston County’s top 10+ girl names and top 10+ boy names of 2023: Girl names, 2023 Charlotte Olivia & Sophia (tie) Camila, Emma, Isabelle & Scarlett (4-way tie) Abigail & Amelia (tie) Delilah Ava, Eliana, Elizabeth, Layla, Luna & Willow (6-way tie) Chloe, Ellie, Emily, Harper, Hazel, Mia, Paisley, Sadie & Sofia (9-way tie) Eliza, Kinsley, Leah, Leilani & Presley (5-way tie) E ..read more