Where did the baby name Kahne come from in 1958?

Kahne Dipaola, Lady of the Bracelet, at a dance in October of 1958
Kahne Dipaola (L)

The curious name Kahne has been in the baby name data recently as a boy name, but it first appeared as a girl name — just once — during the 1950s:

  • 1960: unlisted
  • 1959: unlisted
  • 1958: 5 baby girls name Kahne [debut]
    • all 5 born in Louisiana
  • 1957: unlisted
  • 1956: unlisted

What put it in the data originally?

I’d say locally famous Louisiana college student Kahne Dipaola.

In the fall of 1958, Kahne — a senior at Northwestern State College (in Natchitoches) — won a beauty contest and became the school’s very first “Lady of the Bracelet.” She was presented with a gold bracelet to wear whenever she represented the school in public. (You can see the bracelet on her arm in the photo above, taken at the school’s Halloween dance.)

The honorary bracelet has been passed down to each new Lady of the Bracelet (or “Miss LOB”) ever since. These days it’s not the original anymore, though.

Do you like the name Kahne? What’s your guess on pronunciation? (I’m saying “Connie” in my head, but who knows.)

Sources:

P.S. Speaking of LOB…here’s a baby named Elloebee. :)

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