How popular is the baby name Echo 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 Echo.
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The baby name Silver is now a regular on the SSA’s annual baby name list. But it wasn’t quite as common back in the 1890s when it suddenly debuted with an impressive 10 baby boys:
1898: unlisted
1897: unlisted
1896: 10 baby boys named Silver [debut]
1895: unlisted
1894: unlisted
If we look at SSDI data we see a similar spike in the number of people named Silver in 1896:
1898: 8 people named Silver
1897: 6 people named Silver
1896: 18 people named Silver
1895: 6 people named Silver
1894: 8 people named Silver
Can you guess the cause?
I’ll give you two hints. First, look what happens to the name Bryan that year:
1898: 57 baby boys named Bryan
1897: 97 baby boys named Bryan
1896: 157 baby boys named Bryan
1895: 27 baby boys named Bryan
1894: 9 baby boys named Bryan
Now check out how the name Jennings peaks a year later:
1898: 28 baby boys named Jennings
1897: 50 baby boys named Jennings
1896: 40 baby boys named Jennings
1895: 9 baby boys named Jennings
1894: 5 baby boys named Jennings
No doubt you’ve pieced it together: 1896 was the year William Jennings Bryan ran for president, and the central issue for Democrats that year was Free Silver.
The U.S. was in the middle of a depression, and Free Silver supporters (the “Silverites”) thought the depression could be alleviated via the coinage of silver.
“For true believers,” the Encyclopedia Britannica states, “silver became the symbol of economic justice for the mass of the American people.”
And those “true believers” were very likely the ones naming their kids Silver back in 1896.
But Bryan’s opponent, William McKinley, was able to convince voters that Free Silver was a bad thing — that the resultant inflation would harm the economy — and won the election.
In late 2007, Greenpeace held a competition to name some endangered humpback whales in the South Pacific Ocean.
After gathering over 11,000 suggestions from people across the globe, the organization narrowed it down to just 30 contenders:
Aiko
Amal
Anahi
Atticus
Aurora
Babu
Bumi
Cian
Echo
Gana
Humphrey
Jacques
Kaimana
Kigai
Libertad
Madiba
Malaya
Manami
Mira
Mister Splashy Pants
Moya
Nurani
Paikea
Paz
Sedna
Shanti
Suzuki
Talei
Veikko
Yarrindi
When the polls opened, the rule was one vote per person. But things didn’t go quite as planned.
An anonymous voter in Arizona disabled cookies on his/her computer and was able to cast thousands of votes for Mister Splashy Pants early on.
This attracted the attention of various websites (Digg, Reddit, BoingBoing, Fark, etc.) which led to even more votes for Mister Splashy Pants.
Mister Splashy Pants ended up winning by a landslide, with over 78% of the vote. In 2nd place was Humphrey, with less than 3%.
…Though I love the name “Mister Splashy Pants” (reminds me of Sparklemuffin!), let’s pretend Greenpeace had disqualified MSP mid-competition. Out of the 29 remaining names, which one would you have voted for?
Echo Frejya Grey Adams was the first baby of 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was born to Kayla McEvoy and Jared Adams at 12:02 am on New Year’s Day.
Where did her three given names come from?
Echo came from the character Echo of the short-lived sci-fi TV series Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon. “The couple agreed on the name Echo before she was even conceived, admiring the TV character’s strong personality and “take no prisoners” attitude.”
Frejya commemorates Iceland, which is where Kayla and Jared got married.
Grey came from the character Jean Grey of the X-Men comic series.
Frejya has never been on the SSA’s list, but Echo and Grey have.
Rose Mary Echo Silver Dollar Tabor is another name I discovered while wandering around a Colorado mountain town.
Rose Mary Echo Silver Dollar Tabor, known simply as “Silver,” was born in 1889.
She was the second daughter of “Silver King” Horace Tabor — whose silver mines had made him one of the wealthiest men in Colorado — and Elizabeth “Baby Doe” McCourt, his second wife.
On the back of the photo at right, a friend of Silver’s wrote this about Silver’s name:
‘Rosemary’ given by her mother after the saint and ‘Echo’ given by her mother because she loved the echoes in the mts around Leadville. ‘Silver Dollar’ given by her father because it was the Silver ore that made him his millions. This picture was given to me in Leadville, Colo. 1903 by Silver.
Other sources say the “Silver Dollar” part was suggested by none other than William Jennings Bryan, a family friend.
Unfortunately the Tabors lost their fortune in the early 1890s, thanks in large part to the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.
The family’s riches-to-rags story was made into both a film (Silver Dollar, 1932) and an opera (The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1956). Sadly, Silver didn’t live to see either; she died in 1925 at just 36 years old.
Below are nearly 30 baby names that have been given a boost by various soap operas — All My Children, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and more.
Alanmichael
The character Alan-Michael Spaulding debuted on Guiding Light in 1981 as a baby, then was re-introduced in 1987 as a teenager (impossibly). The baby name Alanmichael debuted on the baby name charts the following year, as did variants Allanmichael and Allenmichael.
1990: 29 baby boys named Alanmichael
1989: 16 baby boys named Alanmichael
1988: 13 baby boys named Alanmichael [debut]
1987: unlisted
1986: unlisted
Alexis
The character Alexis Colby debuted on Dynasty in 1981. The baby name Alexis saw a significant usage increase the next year.
1983: 3,463 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 83rd)
1982: 3,122 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 93rd)
1981: 1,585 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 172nd)
1980: 1,268 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 204th)
1979: 1,010 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 248th)
Ashley
The character Ashley Abbott debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1982. The baby name Ashley saw a significant usage increase that year. (I’ve even interviewed one of the Ashleys named for the character.)
1984: 38,757 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 3rd)
1983: 33,280 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 4th)
1982: 14,844 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 17th)
1981: 8,874 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 34th)
1980: 7,291 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 40th)
Bianca
The character Bianca Montgomery — daughter of Erica Kane — was born during a February 1988 episode of All My Children. The baby name Bianca saw a significant usage increase that year.
1990: 3,826 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 84th)
1989: 3,593 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 91st)
1988: 2,636 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 108th)
1987: 919 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 268th)
1986: 830 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 294th)
Ciji
The character Ciji Dunne debuted on Knot’s Landing in 1982. The baby name Ciji saw a significant usage increase the following year.
1985: 60 baby girls named Ciji
1984: 150 baby girls named Ciji (rank: 963rd)
1983: 244 baby girls named Ciji (rank: 698th)
1982: 8 baby girls named Ciji
1981: unlisted
Cordero
The character Cordero “Cord” Roberts debuted on One Life to Live in 1986. The baby name Cordero debuted on the baby name charts the same year. Cordero was the most impressive newbie name of 1986, in fact. Related names like Corderro, Cordaro, Cordarro, Cordaryl, Cordario and Codero also debuted.
1988: 236 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 615th)
1987: 340 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 481st)
1986: 173 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 689th) [debut]
1985: unlisted
1984: unlisted
Corvina
The character Corvina Lang appeared occasionally on All My Children in the mid-1990s. The baby name Corvina was a one-hit wonder in 1995.
1996: unlisted
1995: 5 baby girls named Corvina [debut]
1994: unlisted
Decker
The character Decker Moss debuted on General Hospital in 1989. The baby name Decker debuted on the baby name charts the following year.
1992: 13 baby boys named Decker
1991: 14 baby boys named Decker
1990: 14 baby boys named Decker [debut]
1989: unlisted
1988: unlisted
Echo
The character Echo DiSavoy debuted on One Life to Live in 1983. The baby name Echo saw a significant usage increase that year.
1985: 115 baby girls named Echo
1984: 182 baby girls named Echo (rank: 846th)
1983: 181 baby girls named Echo (rank: 844th)
1982: 60 baby girls named Echo
1981: 61 baby girls named Echo
Felicia
The character Felicia Cummings debuted on General Hospital in 1984. The baby name Felicia saw a significant usage increase that year.
1986: 3,079 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 90th)
1985: 2,739 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 101st)
1984: 1,482 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 185th)
1983: 1,501 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 181st)
1982: 1,425 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 194th)
Frisco
The character Andrew “Frisco” Jones debuted on General Hospital in 1984. The baby name Frisco debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
1986: 25 baby boys named Frisco
1985: 16 baby boys named Frisco
1984: 7 baby boys named Frisco [debut]
1983: unlisted
1982: unlisted
Holden
The character Holden Snyder debuted on As the World Turns in 1986. The baby name Holden saw a significant usage increase the following year.
1988: 143 baby boys named Holden (rank: 794th)
1987: 107 baby boys named Holden (rank: 910th)
1986: 58 baby boys named Holden
1985: 15 baby boys named Holden
1984: 17 baby boys named Holden
India
The character India von Halkein debuted on Guiding Light in 1984. The baby name India saw a significant usage increase the following year.
1986: 603 baby girls named India (rank: 385th)
1985: 754 baby girls named India (rank: 318th)
1984: 329 baby girls named India (rank: 561st)
1983: 178 baby girls named India (rank: 858th)
1982: 141 baby girls named India
Jimmylee
The character Jimmy Lee Holt debuted on General Hospital in 1983. The baby name Jimmylee debuted on the baby name charts the following year.
1985: 11 baby boys named Jimmylee
1984: 19 baby boys named Jimmylee
1983: 12 baby boys named Jimmylee [debut]
1982: unlisted
1981: unlisted
Joyelle
The character Joyelle was “born” on How To Survive A Marriage in 1975. The baby names Joyelle, Joyel and Joyell all debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
1977: 15/9/10 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell
1976: 31/23/20 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell
1975: 88/79/51 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell [debuts]
1974: unlisted
1973: unlisted
Katina
The character Katina was “born” on Where the Heart Is in 1972. The baby name Katina saw a significant usage increase that year, and related names like Cotina, Katena, Kateena, Cantina and Catena debuted. Cotina was the most impressive newbie name of 1972, in fact. Here’s more on the name Katina.
1974: 765 baby girls named Katina (rank: 307th)
1973: 2,469 baby girls named Katina (rank: 120th)
1972: 2,747 baby girls named Katina (rank: 117th)
1971: 96 baby girls named Katina
1970: 60 baby girls named Katina
Kayla
The character Kayla Brady debuted on Days of Our Lives in 1982. The baby name Kayla saw a significant usage increase that year.
1984: 2,681 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 100th)
1983: 3,527 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 81st)
1982: 2,275 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 133rd)
1981: 318 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 581st)
1980: 313 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 594th)
Keemo
The character Keemo Volien Abbott debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1994. The baby name Keemo was a one-hit wonder in 1994.
1995: unlisted
1994: 7 baby boys named Keemo [debut]
1993: unlisted
Krystle
The character Krystle Carrington debuted on Dynasty in 1981. The baby name Krystle saw a significant usage increase that year.
1983: 1,067 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 232nd)
1982: 916 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 269th)
1981: 448 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 473rd)
1980: 26 baby girls named Krystle
1979: 14 baby girls named Krystle
Lahoma
The character Lahoma Vane debuted on Another World in 1967. The baby name Lahoma saw a usage increase the following year. Here’s more on the name Lahoma.
1969: 44 baby girls named Lahoma
1968: 109 baby girls named Lahoma
1967: 24 baby girls named Lahoma
1966: unlisted
1965: 6 baby girls named Lahoma
Laken
The character Laken Lockridge debuted on Santa Barbara in 1984. The baby name Laken debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
1986: 94 baby girls named Laken
1985: 109 baby girls named Laken
1984: 19 baby girls named Laken [debut]
1983: unlisted
1982: unlisted
Mergeron
The character Dina Mergeron debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1983. The baby name Mergeron was a one-hit wonder in 1984.
1985: unlisted
1984: 5 baby boys named Mergeron [debut]
1983: unlisted
Mikkos
The character Mikkos Cassadine debuted on General Hospital in 1981. The baby name Mikkos debuted on the baby name charts the same year. Variant name Mikos also debuted that year.
1983: unlisted
1982: 6 baby boys named Mikkos
1981: 15 baby boys named Mikkos [debut]
1980: unlisted
1979: unlisted
Penny
The character Penny Hughes debuted on As the World Turns in 1956. The baby name Penny saw a usage increase the following year.
1958: 3,557 baby girls named Penny
1957: 3,042 baby girls named Penny
1956: 2,345 baby girls named Penny
1955: 2,211 baby girls named Penny
1954: 2,135 baby girls named Penny
Reva
The character Reva Shayne debuted on Guiding Light in 1983. The baby name Reva saw a significant usage increase the following year.
1986: 134 baby girls named Reva
1985: 115 baby girls named Reva
1984: 92 baby girls named Reva
1983: 43 baby girls named Reva
1982: 37 baby girls named Reva
Ridge
The character Ridge Forrester debuted on The Bold and the Beautiful in 1987. The baby name Ridge re-entered the baby name charts after a long absence the same year.
1989: 105 baby boys named Ridge (rank: 1,000th)
1988: 99 baby boys named Ridge (rank: 975th)
1987: 26 baby boys named Ridge
1986: unlisted
1985: unlisted
Sierra
The character Sierra Esteban debuted on As the World Turns in 1985. The baby name Sierra saw a significant usage increase that year.
1987: 1,620 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 173rd)
1986: 1,610 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 169th)
1985: 1,199 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 215th)
1984: 230 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 720th)
1983: 193 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 807th)
Snapper
The character William “Snapper” Foster (played by pre-Knight Rider David Hasselhoff) debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1973. The baby name Snapper debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
1975: 6 baby boys names Snapper
1974: 8 baby boys names Snapper
1973: 5 baby boys names Snapper [debut]
1972: unlisted
1971: unlisted
Tara
The character Tara Martin debuted on All My Children in 1970. The baby name Tara saw a significant usage increase that year. Here’s more on the name Tara.
1972: 7,230 baby girls named Tara (rank: 38th)
1971: 6,327 baby girls named Tara (rank: 50th)
1970: 5,334 baby girls named Tara (rank: 69th)
1969: 3,519 baby girls named Tara (rank: 107th)
1968: 2,184 baby girls named Tara (rank: 147th)
Do you know anyone named for a soap opera character?
In late 2007, Greenpeace held a competition to name some endangered humpback whales in the South Pacific Ocean.
Rose Mary Echo Silver Dollar Tabor is 