Where did the baby name Maravene come from in the 1910s?

The book "Persuasive Peggy" (1916) by Maravene Thompson
Book by Maravene Thompson

The unusual name Maravene popped up in the U.S. baby name data just twice, both times in the 1910s:

  • 1918: unlisted
  • 1917: 6 baby girls named Maravene
  • 1916: unlisted
  • 1915: unlisted
  • 1914: unlisted
  • 1913: 5 baby girls named Maravene [debut]
  • 1912: unlisted

The similar name Marvene debuted in 1913 as well.

What was the influence?

Ohio-born author Maravene Thompson, whose short stories were being published in magazines like McClure’s, The American Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Harper’s Weekly in the 1910s. She also put out several books, including The Woman’s Law (1914) and Persuasive Peggy (1916).

Some of her written works were made into movies. Persuasive Peggy, for instance, was adapted for the screen in 1917. She also wrote screenplays specifically, such as the ones for the (now lost) silent films Heredity (1918) and The Heart of a Girl (1918).

What are your thoughts on the baby name Maravene? Which name do you prefer, Maravene or Marvene?

Sources: Maravene Thompson – IMDb, Standard Index of Short Stories, 1900-1933

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