How popular is the baby name Gamble 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 Gamble.

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Popularity of the baby name Gamble


Posts that mention the name Gamble

What turned Gamble into a baby name in 1961?

Gamble Benedict and Andrei Porumbeanu on the cover of Life magazine in April of 1960.
Gamble and Andrei (April, 1960)

Like the name Tirrell, the curious name Gamble appears regularly these days in the boys’ data, but it first popped up as a girl name — just once — in 1961:

  • 1963: unlisted
  • 1962: unlisted
  • 1961: 5 baby girls named Gamble [debut]
  • 1960: unlisted
  • 1959: unlisted

Where did it come from?

Another runaway heiress! This one was New York debutante/heiress Gamble Benedict, the granddaughter of Henry Harper Benedict (1844-1935), co-owner of the Remington Typewriter Company.

During the last days of 1959, 18-year-old Gamble ran away from home to be with her 35-year-old Romanian-born boyfriend, Andrei Porumbeanu (who already had a wife, Helma, and daughter, Gigi).

Gamble and Andrei first fled to Paris, where they stayed for most of January. (Gamble turned 19 mid-month.) At the end of the month, Gamble was apprehended by Paris police and “flown home to her stern dowager grandmother.”

The pair ran off again in April, after Andrei had obtained a Mexican divorce. This time they went south. They married in North Carolina on the 6th, then took a plane to Florida for a honeymoon.

The story was in the news for months on end during the first half of the year. (Several years later, in 1964, Time magazine summed it up as an “endlessly publicized…runaway marriage.”)

So what became of the couple? They ended up having two sons (George and Gregory) and spent most of their time in Switzerland…before Gamble initiated divorce proceedings in mid-1963.

Though I never found an explanation for Gamble’s unique first name, my guess is that it’s a surname that can be found somewhere in her family tree.

What are your thoughts on the name “Gamble” for a baby (male or female)? Would you use it?

Sources:

Image: © 1960 Life

Popular and unique baby names in Idaho, 2010

Flag of Idaho
Flag of Idaho

The state of Idaho recently released its 2010 annual report, and the report includes some baby names.

First, here are Idaho’s most popular baby names of 2010. (More or less the same as what SSA has listed for Idaho that year.)

Girl Names

  1. Olivia, 122 baby girls
  2. Emma, 103
  3. Sophia, 99
  4. Ava, 88
  5. Abigail, 85
  6. Elizabeth, 83
  7. Emily, 78
  8. Isabella, 77
  9. Ella, 71
  10. Addison & Brooklyn (tie), 65 each

Boy Names

  1. William, 119 baby boys
  2. Samuel, 116
  3. Logan, 115
  4. Ethan, 101
  5. Jacob, 95
  6. Aiden, 92
  7. Mason, 89
  8. Noah, 82
  9. Alexander, 81
  10. James, 79

Now on to the bizarre stuff!

In the report, Idaho included a selection of unique names:

Unique Boy Names (2010)Unique Girl Names (2010)
Bear, Character, Dagger, Freighter, Genghis, Hatchet, Hemi, Ice-T, Jethreaux, Justify, King Tiberius, Laugh, Nightsky, Permisius, Raysyn, Ripken, Saw, Scythe, Skeeter, Sourish, Theory, Truth, W’dbin, Wisdom, ZytareonArrehli, Aoife, Balou, Bronwyn, Dawnlight, Dixi, Espn, Hickory, Kalifornia, Koal, Legacy, Little Noah, Meeka Bella, Mhyrrauzhe, Moneeq, Moserratt, Omolola, Oo, Rootsy, Saphron, Sparkle, Sunset, Tietsie, Virtue, Xoko

Some thoughts:

Since Idaho’s annual reports for 2003-2010 are all available online, lets look at the selections of unique names from years past, shall we?

2009:

Unique Boy Names (2009)Unique Girl Names (2009)
“Champion” Reese, Civic, Cougar, Domonique, Eleven, Evol, Hopper, Huckleberry, Irish, Jah Kobi, Jaxxon, Kastle, K-Den, Major Jack, Nixon, Noall, Oz, Pledger, Reef, Sabyr, Shade, Shadow, Skeet, Taft, ZebedeeArlington, August Star, Beatriz, Byrkli, Charm, Clarixxa, Daiquiri, Fayte, Goldie-Moon, Gyzzelle, Jubilee, Kanyon, Lala, Love, Montana, Nirvana, Pepper, Prairie, Poppy, Soul, Tottie, Tundra, Zipporah

Yes, those quotation marks were included.

2008:

Unique Boy Names (2008)Unique Girl Names (2008)
Adjrick, Andronicus, Arrow, Blazer, Brayke, Buzz, Casino, Chamillionaire, Dacx, Driggs, Gamble, Heman, Klete, Kodiak, Kroten, Krue, Link, Mitt, Pheonix, Ransom, Rodee, Silynce, Summit, ZzyzxAngelic, Beautifull, Boisen, Byainett, Calloway, Celestial, Ecstacy, Eeleceya, Hadies, Heaven, Infiniti, Integrity, Jewleah, Kaskade, Kozmo, Maplejo, Mishalyn, Remmington, Season, Symphony, Thyme, Ugonna, Xerenity, Zepplyn

2007:

Unique Boy Names (2007)Unique Girl Names (2007)
Aodhan, Braestyn, Buell, Champ, Dazryn, Elisjsha, Enveus, Grimsley, Hayze, Holdem, Kamero, Kay-Sin, Khonnerk, Lowgin, Makaijden, Mickyle, Nykolaus, Painter, Praze, Sander, Shadrack, Solo, Space, Tlaloc, TrackinArbor, Auktober, Blessin, Brizzbin, Brookenzie, Cabella, Clarity, Denym, Eos, Epiphany, Honesty, Kwincee, Lavender, Lybburtie, Miami, Modiesty-Star, Mysticque, Peaches, Perfect, Rebel-Ann, Seattle, Shy, Uneike, Vegas, Zoigh

Casino and Gamble in 2008, Holdem and Vegas in 2007…do I detect a pattern here?

2006:

Unique Boy Names (2006)Unique Girl Names (2006)
Akhilles, Backtash, Blend, Bronco, Chalk, College, Colquohn, Daily, Gid, Hampton, Howdy, Jameraquoi, Karona, Lake, Packer, Polo, Razor, Rythmik, Sacramento, Spur, Trask, Tucson, Winn, Wracer, XzavvyerAllyvia, Anakalia, Aptisam, Aveda, Blayde, Bristol, Cedee, Dorcas, Fall, Heziachiah, Kalispell, Klowie, Lexington, Little Summers, Navy, Northstar, Nutaliay Harmoney, Pennilane Meadow, Phaedra, Russia, Tacheranai, Tragen, Tsunami, Viktoriya, Yochabelle

2005:

Unique Boy Names (2005)Unique Girl Names (2005)
Anthem, Ayerik, Candyladio, Cotton, Dodger, Drizzt, Havoc, Izik, Kaschus, Khargo, Kleveland, Kryzstian, Kudter, Lucky, Nickel, Perrigrine, Quirt, Rook, Salad, Snuepy, Tearin, Trapper, Troix, Truth, WesternAlaska, Alpine, Aquilla, Autumn Hunnie, Cascade, Chili, England, Graceland, Happy, Holland, Itali, Juniper, Jynnjer, Kahlua, Khlover, Kronic, Libbertie, Lixy, Mali, Manhattan, Oyuky, Saoirse, Tanaquil, Wyntre, Zipaya

2004:

Unique Boy Names (2004)Unique Girl Names (2004)
Audi, Boulder, Cairo, Carpenter, Catcher, Cohl, Craeton, Fynyxx, Gairimiah, Honniscrave, Kahlvyn, Kaimbridge, Koa, Ledg, Nike, Qwydion, Nation, Racin, Rhoamen, Sagedricht, Stouffer, Stryker, Tayo, Tracer, WongfeiAmericus, Braenwynne, Cachet, Creedance, Fennel, Freedom, Indyana, Innocence, Libertyann, Mavity, McCall, Mem’Ree, Memphis, Octayvia, Olive, Remedy, Sativalyn, Secret-Destiny, Serendipity, Sicily, Sublym, Surreal, Tennessee, Tuesday-Rain, Zuzu

2003:

Unique Boy Names (2003)Unique Girl Names (2003)
Barnaby, Birch, Boone, Bruin, Cage, Camas, Carbon, Coupe, Dooley, Drakeland, Dutch, Future, Gryphon, Hatch, Huckle, Jex, Kross, Kutter, Magnus, Mir, Pantaleon, Tazyn, Treznor, Tugg, TukerAlastrionna, Ambrosia, Amnesty, Berlyn, Brittanica, Calypso, Capreece, Catalina, Celtic, Crimson, Daytona, Diligence, Divinity, Dublin, Hermyanie, Icelynn, Kazpyr, Kezzi, Lotus, Magnolia, Otila, Payshence, Pranaleyadri, Rainger, Starlit

In Idaho’s 2003-2009 annual reports, the heading of the unique names section was “Selected Unique Names, Yewneek Spellings.” For 2010, it was lengthened to “Selected Unique Baby Names, Yewneek Baybee Spellings.” Aren’t these a bit snarky for an official state document…?

Source: Idaho Vital Statistics – Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Image: Adapted from Flag of Idaho (public domain)

[Latest update: June 2023]

What popularized the baby name Brenda in 1939?

Debutante Brenda Diana Duff Frazier on the cover of Life magazine (Nov. 1938)
Brenda Frazier

Brenda Diana Duff Frazier (1921-1982) was an American debutante who rose to fame toward the end of the Great Depression. She wasn’t from an old-money family, but she did have a $4 million trust fund, thanks to her paternal grandfather.

“By the time Frazier was ready to make her debut, most of the established charity group balls and cotillions — even the more down-market ones — rejected her application.” So Brenda’s overbearing, “embarrassingly nouveau riche” mother planned an extravagant coming-out party. It was held at the Ritz-Carlton in December of 1938, and it attracted a remarkable amount of media attention. In anticipation of the event, LIFE made Brenda a cover girl in mid-November.

The baby name Brenda was already on the rise, but all the buzz around Brenda Frazier kicked the name into high gear in 1939:

  • 1942: 7,239 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 40th]
  • 1941: 6,331 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 41st]
  • 1940: 5,442 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 42nd]
  • 1939: 2,756 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 86th]
  • 1938: 676 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 244th]
  • 1937: 233 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 423rd]
  • 1936: 163 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 511th]
  • 1935: 132 baby girls named Brenda [rank: 556th]

This was also the year that gossip columnist Walter Winchell, inspired by Frazier’s “ubiquity, her hustle, her fame,” coined the term celebutante — a portmanteau of celebrity and debutante — to describe Brenda specifically.

Over the next few years, Frazier stayed in the spotlight by appearing in various magazine advertisements, such as this Studebaker Land Cruiser ad from early 1941:

Brenda Frazier featured in a magazine ad for Studebaker cars (Jan. 1941)
Brenda Frazier in magazine ad

(Decades later, she wrote: “I found it amusing that I should be paid to recommend a particular make of car — I, who had never been permitted to drive an automobile and went everywhere by taxi or by chauffeured limousine.”)

By the middle of the century, the name Brenda was one of the most popular baby names in the nation. It ranked among the top 20 girl names from 1948 all the way to 1964.

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

By that time, though, Brenda Frazier’s popularity had long since waned. She went on to live a difficult life (which included eating disorders, drug and alcohol addictions, two divorces, and multiple suicide attempts) before passing away “a virtual recluse” in 1982.

In 2007, New York Magazine ranked the top 20 socialites of all time. Frazier came in 16th.

Sources:

Image: © 1938 Life

P.S. Other debutantes who’ve influenced U.S. baby names include Cobina Wright, Jr., Deyanne O’Neil Farrell, Oona O’Neill, Sharman Douglas, Theonita Cox, and Gamble Benedict.