How popular is the baby name Dang in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Dang.

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Popularity of the baby name Dang


Posts that mention the name Dang

What gave the baby name Tiger a boost (twice)?

tiger

For the longest time, I was mystified by the popularity graph for the baby name Tiger. It shows two distinct spikes in usage: one in 1997/1998, the other in 2010.

The initial spike aligns with the rise of golfer Tiger Woods, who “shot to fame after winning the U.S. Masters at Augusta in 1997 — with a record score of 270 — at the age of 21.” He was both the youngest-ever winner and the first African American winner.

If we stick with the Tiger Woods theory, though, the 2010 spike aligns best with Tiger’s infidelity scandal, which was making headlines from late 2009 until mid-2010. And that certainly could be the explanation…though it seems like a disproportionately steep rise, given the nature of the news.

Graph of the usage of the baby name Tiger in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Tiger

When I noticed recently that Dragon-related names were more popular during Dragon years, it occurred to me that another animal of the Chinese zodiac — the Tiger — might be influencing the baby name Tiger in a similar way.

The most recent Tiger years were 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010. Turns out that the two big spikes, plus the debut (in 1962), match up perfectly with Tiger years:

  • In 2010, 130 U.S. baby boys were named Tiger.
    • 39 [30%] in California, 10 in Texas, 9 in New York, 8 in Washington, 7 in Florida, 6 in Minnesota, 5 in Pennsylvania.
  • In 1998, 97 U.S. baby boys were named Tiger.
    • 23 [24%] were born in California, 8 in Texas, 6 in Pennsylvania, 5 in Illinois.
  • In 1962, 7 U.S. baby boys were named Tiger.

It’s intriguing that the name was absent from the data in 1974 and 1986. Perhaps Tiger Woods’ rise to fame in 1997 not only gave the name an early boost, but primed expectant parents to see “Tiger” as a feasible option — making those big spikes in 1998 and 2010 possible.

What do you think the usage of “Tiger” will look like in the next Tiger year, 2022?

Update (Aug. 2023): We have our answer! The name Tiger saw another spike last year:

Graph of the usage of the baby name Tiger in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Tiger (more up-to-date)

Here’s the 2022 data:

  • In 2022, 64 U.S. baby boys and 9 baby girls were named Tiger.
    • 10 [16%] were born in in California, 8 in Texas, 7 in Florida, 6 in Hawaii, 5 in Georgia.

P.S. Tiger Woods’ birth name is actually Eldrick. His mother invented it, starting it with an “E” because her husband’s name was Earl and ending it with a “K” because her own name is Kultida. Earl Woods nicknamed his son “Tiger” in honor of Col. Vuong Dang “Tiger” Phong, whom he’d known while serving in Vietnam. (The story of the search for Phong is fascinating…)

Sources: Tiger Woods – Biography, Tiger (zodiac) – Wikipedia, Tiger’s dad gave us all some lessons to remember, SSA

[Latest update: Sept. 2023]

Popular and unique baby names in Quebec (Canada), 2006

Flag of Quebec
Flag of Quebec

The most popular baby names in Quebec for 2006 were:

Girl Names

  1. Léa
  2. Jade
  3. Rosalie
  4. Florence
  5. Laurie
  6. Gabrielle
  7. Sarah
  8. Camille
  9. Oceane
  10. Laurence

Boy Names

  1. William
  2. Samuel
  3. Alexis
  4. Nathan
  5. Thomas
  6. Antoine
  7. Gabriel
  8. Justin
  9. Olivier
  10. Felix

And some of the more unusual names bestowed that year include:

Unique Girl NamesUnique Boy Names
Angelik Glory, Bambou, Cassyopee, Dang Sandrine, Eylllee, Fraidy, Garthy, Hytina, Ifza, Joody, Kashemyre, Lalla-Malak, Magenta, Neptune Elisabeth, Orthodoxia, Pornika, Qillitaq Maggie, Rym, Stormi Page, Toobah, Ujaali, Vetergul, Willyanna, Xaralambia Maria, Yoophie, ZebraAthithya, Bleart, Chinchilla-Lemus, Djimangar-Bayone, Eyob, Finhastedros, Gharthihan, Herdgee-Guerdley, Idyr, Joko, Kweency-Gabryel, Levi Summer-Sky, Mc Eder, Nylander, Oz, Poo Reum, Razmig, Schnyder, Tem-Tom, Ufuk, Vuvu Jeffrey, Wise, X-avier, Yaya, Zoik

Source: List of Baby Names – Retraite Québec

Image: Adapted from Flag of Quebec (public domain)