Will the iPhone 4S Give the Name “Siri” a Boost?
| 14 October 2011 | Filed under Baby Names, Girl Names, Pop Culture Baby Names, Prognostications, Unique Baby Names |
Time for another baby name prediction!
Apple introduced the iPhone 4S earlier this month, and the first shipments should be arriving any day now.
The phone’s Siri voice recognition/dictation software has got people talking–literally. Siri allows you to have a verbal conversation with your iPhone. So far the software has received positive reviews, like this one from Engadget:
The most impressive part was the demo of Siri, the new assistant that lets you do just about anything you can do on your phone — but with your voice. We tried to psych it out with a bunch of random requests, including the history of Chester, Vermont (a lovely town) and the best Ramen places in San Francisco. Siri never faltered, never missed a beat.
The fact that a highly coveted Apple product now features software named “Siri” could be a game-changer for the baby name Siri, which was already on the upswing:
- 2001 – 29 baby girls named Siri
- 2002 – 36 baby girls named Siri
- 2003 – 44 baby girls named Siri
- 2004 – 55 baby girls named Siri
- 2005 – 72 baby girls named Siri
- 2006 – 104 baby girls named Siri
- 2007 – 108 baby girls named Siri
- 2008 – 115 baby girls named Siri
- 2009 – 119 baby girls named Siri
- 2010 – 111 baby girls named Siri [ranked 1,831st]
Do you think the iPhone will give the name Siri a boost? Perhaps nudge it into the top 1,000? (The cut-off was 249 baby girls in 2010.)
Why or why not?
I know a 3 year old boy named Siri. He was named after his Grandmother Iris…. spelled backwards.
I would guess a small boost, but not enough to get into the top 1,000.
I know 2 Siris. Both girls. One is someone I went to college with; the other is the daughter of someone I went to college with. Both have northern European heritages.
Okay, initially I thought “no way.” But after having listened to Siri pull up the weather and directions all morning, well … I kind of feel like she is a member of the family. I could see her catching on.
I know of at least one child named after the writer Siri Hustvedt. But then, I used to live in Hustvedt’s hometown and Scandinavian names are pretty common there.
Siri is a very famous indian name. Meaning- wealth
Siri was developed by Siri Inc, a spin-off of SRI International, so it looks like Siri’s name was based on the acronym. (SRI = Stanford Research Institute.)
My guess is probably, and that completely bums me out because it’s my number one baby girl name and I have no desire to see it rise in popularity! Also disappointing because it may lead some people to think that’s where we “got it from”. Our version is a nickname of Sigrid, a Scandinavian name that means beautiful victory.
Our daughter is one of those from 2006. I’m a little bummed and hoping it doesn’t become a teasing factor in the elementary years. Although I like it since I may not have to spell out her name EVERY time she is introduced!!
From the WSJ:
Source: Seriously, Apple? In Japan, Siri Fans Bottom Jokes (10/5)
I hope not! I love everything about my daughter’s name and, as silly as it may be, I am so sad that it’s being used for this. I wish Apple had gotten creative and renamed the software, something in the Google/Yahoo/Bing vein, rather than tainting this beautiful name.
There’s now a Siri competitor named Evi.
Usage of Siri actually *dropped* slightly in 2011:
2010: 111 baby girls named Siri
2011: 103 baby girls names Siri
Interesting!