The rise of “xx” baby names

Baby names featuring the letter X are more popular now than ever before, and this trend has given rise to an fascinating sub-trend: baby names featuring two X’s.

Since 1980, dozens of double-X names have popped up in the U.S. baby name data. Here are all the XX-names I’ve spotted so far, ordered by year of debut:

  • 1979: …
  • 1980: Maxx*
  • 1981: …
  • 1982: …
  • 1983: …
  • 1984: Roxxanne
  • 1985: …
  • 1986: Alexx
  • 1987: Alexxis
  • 1988: …
  • 1989: Alexxa, Roxxane
  • 1990: Maxxwell, Alexxus*
  • 1991: Lexxus*, Xxavier
  • 1992: Alexxander
  • 1993: …
  • 1994: Alixx, Lexxi, Alexxandra
  • 1995: Lexxis, Alexxandria, Foxx, Daxx
  • 1996: Alexxys, Alexxia
  • 1997: Alexxes, Jaxx
  • 1998: Lexxie
  • 1999: …
  • 2000: Lexxy, Maxximus*, Lexx
  • 2001: Maxxwel
  • 2002: Jaxxon, Axxel
  • 2003: …
  • 2004: …
  • 2005: …
  • 2006: …
  • 2007: Maddoxx
  • 2008: Roxxi, Braxxton
  • 2009: Knoxx, Madoxx, Maxxon, Lenoxx, Nixxon
  • 2010: Luxx, Phoenixx, Jaxxen, Maxxim
  • 2011: Jaxxson, Rexx
  • 2012: Braxx, Jaxxyn, Maxxamus
  • 2013: Moxxi, Dexx, Jaxxin
  • 2014: Jaxxton, Maxxton, Maxxen
  • 2015: Maxxis, Daxxon, Daxxton
  • 2016: Maxxine, Noxx, Brixx, Hendrixx
  • 2017: Madixx
  • 2018: Brixxon, Onyxx, Axxton, Jaxxston

*Pop culture connections: Maxx was inspired by a TV show, Lexxus (and Alexxus) by the car brand, and Maxximus by the movie Gladiator.

And here’s something interesting: as the usage of XX-names has increased, the trend has veered masculine:

200020102018
All babies w/ XX-names3316511,011
Boys with XX-names126 (38%)507 (77%)960 (95%)
Girls with XX-names205 (62%)144 (22%)51 (5%)

What are your thoughts on the extra X — stylish, or superfluous?

P.S. Here are a few more XX-names collected from other posts: Lexxannah, Clarixxa, Jixxr, Sixx, Xxoie, Bixx, JMaxx, Mixx.

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