How popular is the baby name Appendicitis in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Appendicitis.

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Popularity of the Baby Name Appendicitis


Posts that Mention the Name Appendicitis

Top Blog Posts of 2014; Suggestions for 2015?

Happy New Year!

Wondering which NBN posts got the most traffic last year? Here’s the official list:

  1. Names People Have Given Their Cars
  2. How to Pronounce Popular Irish Names – Aoife, Cian, Niamh, Oisin
  3. The Name Your Car Formula, for Name Your Car Day
  4. Hailey, Haleigh, Haylee… Which Spelling Is Best?
  5. Is ABCDE Really a Baby Name?
  6. Avery – Girl Name or Boy Name?
  7. Car Names as Baby Names
  8. 110+ Hidden Gems: Rare Baby Girl Names
  9. Baby Name Needed – Botanical Name for Baby Boy
  10. What Are the Most Pretentious Baby Names?

And which NBN posts published in 2014 specifically got the most traffic last year?

  1. Popular Baby Names in Ireland, 2013
  2. Top Baby Girl Name Debuts of 2013
  3. Siblings Named Tonsillitis, Meningitis, Appendicitis…
  4. List of Female Names from 1888
  5. Popular Baby Names in Poland, 2013
  6. Popular Baby Names in Estonia, 2013
  7. Baby Name Trends in South Korea
  8. 40 Pairs of Baby Names for Girl-Boy Twins
  9. Names Popular During the Victorian Era
  10. Kilcher Names – Atz, Farenorth, Jewel, Q’orianka

Thanks so much for reading along year after year, everyone. Your comments and emails mean a lot to me. :)

Is there anything in particular you’d like to see a post about in 2015? Please comment below or send me a note.

Siblings Named Tonsillitis, Meningitis, Appendicitis…

About 80 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Emsy Jackson of Oklahoma started naming their children after medical conditions:

  • Tonsillitis “Tonsy” Jackson (boy) – born Nov. 7, 1932
  • Meningitis “Mennie” Jackson (boy)
  • Appendicitis “Pendy” Jackson (girl) – born Dec. 25, 1936
  • Laryngitis Jackson (girl)
  • Peritonitis Jackson (girl)
  • Jakeitis Jackson (girl)

The family first made the news in early 1937, right after Appendicitis was born. Their story ran in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, and TIME, not to mention a bunch of regional papers.

Tonsillitis made headlines twice more after that — when he enlisted in the Navy in 1951, and when he re-enlisted in 1955. (Before he re-enlisted, he had to be treated for tonsillitis, ironically.) In these articles, he explained that his mother had been suffering from a sore throat when he was born, hence the name Tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis Jackson
Tonsillitis Jackson (1932-2006)

And what about Jakeitis — made-up name? No, actually. “Jakeitis” isn’t a recognized medical condition, but the word was used in the 1930s to describe the paralysis that afflicted drinkers of Jake, a slang word for Jamaica Ginger.

Now it’s your turn: If we could add a 7th sibling to this set, what would his/her -itis baby name be? Here are some inflammations for you to choose from…

Sources:

  • “Aftermath.” West Australian 8 Nov. 1951: 1.
  • All in the Family – Futility Closet
  • “Miscellany.” TIME 25 Jan. 1937: 36.
  • “Navy Has Case of Tonsillitis.” Toledo Blade 26 Aug. 1955: 2.

Image: Tonsillitis Jackson, Find A Grave