Where did the baby name Randye come from in 1949?

Murray and Marjorie Herman with triplets (Jaimye, Randye, Vickye) in 1949.
Herman triplets, 1949

The baby name Randye debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1949. The usage occurred primarily in New York state.

Girls named Randye (U.S.)Girls named Randye (N.Y.)
19531110
19522411
1951126
195096
194924*14*
1948..
1947..
*Debut

Why the debut, and why New York?

Because of a set of identical triplets born to New York City couple Murray and Marjorie Herman in May of 1949. The three girls were born at Polyclinic Hospital and named Jaimye, Randye, and Vickye.

My guess is that the triplets — plus their older sister, Leslye — were featured in the local news throughout their childhood. All four of must have been in the papers around 1952, for instance, because usage of three of the four names increased that year.

Female usage of names similar to Randye (like Randy and Randi) were seeing higher usage in general during this time period, likely thanks to the influence of movie actress Randy Stuart (born Elizabeth Shaubell).

Sources:

4 thoughts on “Where did the baby name Randye come from in 1949?

  1. The “ye” endings seem like one of the most contrived, unattractive spelling tropes out there.

  2. I’m not a fan of “-ye” on 2-syllable feminine names (e.g. Bettye, Rubye) specifically. Just seems unnecessary.

    That said, I don’t mind the extra “e” on names like Faye or Gaye. Or even on 2-syllable masculine names that parents are trying to feminize, like Billye or Bobbye. (I don’t like the *look* or Billye or Bobbye, but I can at least understand the motivation in those cases.)

  3. Wow. I went to high school with Randye and Vickye (I think), met Jaimye at the Herman family home one afternoon and first found out that they were triplets, but never knew that they spelled their names like that or that they had an older sister (who also spelled her name like that). Randye was in one of my classes at Art & Design in New York City, as I recall, but I don’t ever remember seeing her name spelled with an “e” at the end of it. Of course, I may have seen it, but didn’t absorb it. Reading their father’s obituary of 21 years ago made me glad to know that the girls had done all right for themselves. Hope they’re still okay today. No doubt grandmothers, themselves now. How time flies!!!

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