Top one-hit wonder boy names of all time in the U.S. baby name data

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Here are some of the top one-hit wonder boy names of all time, from 1880 to 2012:

  1. Christop, 1,082 baby boys in 1989.
  2. Christia, 82 baby boys in 1989.
  3. Jometh, 23 baby boys in 2008.
  4. Jefre, 21 baby boys in 1961.
  5. Eriksson, 15 baby boys in 2008.
    • Alfy, 15 baby boys in 1966.
    • Andamo, 15 baby boys in 1960.
  6. Coopar, 14 baby boys in 2010.
  7. Ardan, 13 baby boys in 2012.
  8. Ramzee, 12 baby boys in 2006.
  9. Brettly, 11 baby boys in 2012.
  10. Aaro, 10 baby boys in 2012.

If we ignore the glitchy 1989 names, the real #1 one-hit wonder becomes Jometh.

Here’s what I can tell you about some of the above: Jometh and Elionaid were inspired by the TV show Objetivo Fama; Andamo was inspired by the TV show Mr. Lucky; Maurkice was inspired by football player Maurkice Pouncey; Kimario was inspired by a mention in Ebony magazine; Willkie was inspired by politician Wendell Willkie; Amareion was inspired by singer Omarion; Ebay was inspired by the TV show Good Times; Brettly was inspired by the TV show American Restoration; Vadir was inspired by actor Vadhir Derbez; Travolta was inspired by actor John Travolta; Macarther was inspired by Douglas MacArthur; Schley was inspired by Winfield Scott Schley.

Can you come up with explanations for any of the others?

Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.

5 thoughts on “Top one-hit wonder boy names of all time in the U.S. baby name data

  1. Thanks!

    Also, extra info for Zygmond: A bunch of related names (Zigmond, Zigmont, Sigmond, Sigmund, Zigmund, Zygmunt, Zygmund) saw modest increases that year as well.

  2. Jamiroquan: the British band Jamiroquai relseased an album in the US in 1995.
    Quanye: a twist on Kaye. Kanye West released his first album in 2004.
    Loxley: in the 2010 film Robin Hood, the main character assumes the identity of Sir Robert Loxley.
    Rikishi: the Japanese name for a professiknal sumo wrestler.
    Duce: probably imspired by Duce Staley, an American football player (raher than Il Duce, Benito Mussolini).
    Versace: Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997.
    Nattiel: American football player Ricky Nattiel, born 1960.
    Lorrain: likely inspired by WWI and the French region of Lorraine. 1919 was the year after the end of the war.

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