How popular is the baby name Gussie 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 Gussie.

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Popularity of the baby name Gussie


Posts that mention the name Gussie

Searching for “Glen Eden”

Atlas Obscura recently published an article about a man named Glen Eden Einbinder who has been collecting things bearing his first and middle names for more than 25 years.

His collection consists of “Glen Eden” postcards, bottle tops, newspaper clippings, leaflets, photographs, drink coasters, clothing, and more. The items represent various places: the Glen Eden nudist resort in California, the Glen Eden wool company in Georgia, the Glen Eden summer camp in Wisconsin, etc.

Though the two [names] together conjure up some pleasant idyll–Glen as a woodland valley, Eden as a garden–he didn’t realize the connection until he started to come across the huge volume of places that share his name.

Reader Becca pointed me to the article (thank you, Becca!) and asked about other people with this specific first-middle combo.

According to SSA data, at least 125,035 U.S. baby boys (and 1,348 U.S. baby girls) have been named single-N-Glen since 1880. So how many of these American single-N-Glens have the middle name Eden (besides Glen Eden Einbinder)?

A handful do, though I could only find definitive proof of two of them:

  • Glen Eden Hawkes (1907-1979) of Idaho
  • Glen Eden Franklin (b. 1918) of North Carolina

I also found several international Glen Edens, like these two:

  • Glen Eden Davis (1925-2003) of New South Wales, Australia
  • Glen Eden Flintoff (b. 1898) of Ontario, Canada

And there were plenty of near-misses. I found people named double-N-Glenn Eden (example), first-last Glen Eden (example), and first-last double-N-Glenn Eden (example). Plus people with first names like Gleneden, Glenedene, and Glenedena (example).

And how was Glen Eden Einbinder himself named?

Glen…is somehow related to the initials of his ancestors, with the “G” perhaps coming from a Great-Aunt Gussie. And Eden comes from the Jack London book Martin Eden, which his father was reading when Einbinder was born.

Do you have any thoughts on the combo “Glen Eden”?

P.S. This article reminded me of a documentary called The Grace Lee Project, in which an Asian-American filmmaker named Grace Lee interviews a bunch of other Asian-American women also named Grace Lee. (I think I first heard about it via Nancy Friedman.)

Which Van Buren sister name do like more?

The Van Buren sisters, Augusta and Adeline
The Van Buren sisters, Augusta and Adeline

While visiting the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum in South Dakota recently, I learned about motorcycling sisters Augusta “Gussie” Van Buren and Adeline “Addie” Van Buren — descendants of former president Martin Van Buren — who were the first women to ride across the continent on two solo motorcycles.

They set off from Brooklyn on July 4, 1916, and reached Los Angeles on September 8.

If you were having a daughter, and you had to name her either Augusta or Adeline, which would it be? Why?

Sources: AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Adeline and Augusta Van Buren, Van Buren sisters – Wikipedia

Where did the baby name Tyechia come from in 1982?

Gussie Alexis holding toddler Tyechia
Gussie and Tyechia

In mid-1982, a little girl named Tyechia Reid was making headlines.

Tyechia was two-and-a-half years old and her foster mother, 63-year-old New York widow Gussie Alexis, was fighting to adopt her.

Gussie, who had raised Tyechia since infancy and had weaned her from a heroin addiction, was ordered in June to surrender Tyechia. The adoption agency told her she was too old to adopt.

Gussie refused. Instead, she fought the adoption agency all summer. Finally, in September, she won custody of the little girl.

Thanks to this ongoing (and heart-warming) news story, the baby name Tyechia became the top debut name of 1982 with 71 baby girls:

  • 1984: 10 baby girls named Tyechia
  • 1983: 53 baby girls named Tyechia (and 6 more named Tyecha)
  • 1982: 71 baby girls named Tyechia [debut]
  • 1981: unlisted
  • 1980: unlisted

It stayed in the U.S. baby name data until the late 1980s, but hasn’t been back since. (Spelling variant Tyecha was a one-hit wonder.)

What are your thoughts on the name Tyechia?

Sources:

“Miss America” names: Caleche, Jillayne, Osjha, Tangra, Venus

Did you know that there have been Miss Americas named Venus (1944), BeBe (1948), Jacque (1949), Vonda (1965) and Leanza (1993)?

Miss America 1926, Norma Smallwood, had the middle name Des Cygne (French for “swans”), which she then passed along to her daughter as a first name (paired with the middle name L’Amour, French for “love”).

In 2000, the Miss America pageant included delegates named Brandee (from New Hampshire), Brandi (from New York) and Brandy (from Arkansas).

Other interesting names I spotted skimming over lists of delegates include…

  • Acacia Courtney (2015)
  • Adria Elaine Easton (1970)
  • Alansa Rounds Carr (1960)
  • Aloha Eugenia Porter (1926)
  • Ami Vice (2005) – just two letters away from Miami Vice!
  • Aniska T. Tonge (2013)
  • Annalou Johnston (1949)
  • Annyse Diane Sherman (1942)
  • Armelia Carol Ohmart (1946)
  • Arron Racheal Wendel (2001)
  • BaShara Crystelle Chandler (1994)
  • Bee Jay Johnston (1949)
  • Bethlene Pancoast (2007)
  • Bindhu Pamarthi (2014)
  • Brantlee Corinne Price (1970)
  • Burma Ann Davis (1969)
  • Caleche Manos (2008)
  • Charlavan Baker (1955)
  • Chardelle Hayward (1953)
  • Che’Vonne Dalora Burton (2001)
  • Chuti Lynn Tiu (1995)
  • Clark Janell Davis (2016)
  • Cloris Leachman (1946)
  • Coline-Helen Kaualoku Aiu (1975)
  • Cullen Johnson (1995)
  • Dakeita Tania Vanderburg (1984)
  • Dalyce Gail Smith (1956)
  • Daphne Jean Cochran (1981)
  • Darby Lynn Moore (1975)
  • Daureen Podenski (1980)
  • Delight Michelle Scheck (1999)
  • Dell-Fin Kala’upaona Po’aha (1951)
  • Dellynne Cole Catching (1969)
  • Delta Burke (1975)
  • Denby Annette Kwai Foong Dung (2002)
  • Devanni Partridge (2010)
  • Djuan Keila Trent (2011)
  • Dusene Alee Vunovich (1961)
  • Du Sharme Le Shette Carter (1993)
  • Dustin-Leigh Konzelman (2006)
  • Echo Layne Rost (1974)
  • Edithea Lois Wilde (1923)
  • Eisa Megan Krushansky (1998)
  • Eldrida Fisk (1922)
  • Ethelda Bernice Kenvin (1923)
  • Eudora Leola Mosby (2006)
  • Eugenia Alexandra Primis (2002)
  • Fairfax Bushnell Mason (1948)
  • Ferol Amelia Dumas (1941)
  • Fianna Marie Dickson (2004)
  • Florine Holt (1939)
  • Freita Fuller (1973)
  • Galen Aubrey Giaccone (2009)
  • GiGi Marie Gordon (1997)
  • Glenna Marie Pohly (1953)
  • Glynnelle Hubbard (1958)
  • Gordean Leilehua Lee (1960)
  • Gunnel Ragone (1969)
  • Gussie Short (1937)
  • Guylyn Elaine Remmenga (1979)
  • Haunani Asing (1977)
  • Hela Yungst (1971)
  • Helmar Liederman (1922)
  • Herma Loy Elliott (1963)
  • Honey Castro (1986)
  • Iora June Victor (1944)
  • Irmgard Dietel (1937)
  • Itha Duerrhammer (1944)
  • Jade-Romejii Smalls (2000)
  • Jalee Fuselier (2011)
  • Jaleigh Jeffers (1983)
  • Jeffie Lorraine Ventling (1998)
  • Jenileigh Avriel Sawatzke (2007)
  • Jere Wright (1957)
  • Jillayne Ann Mertens (2002)
  • Jini Boyd (1946)
  • Jinx Burrus (1951)
  • Junnie Young Cross (2001)
  • Kalyn Evel Chapman (1994)
  • Kama Katherine Boland (2000)
  • Kanoe Aberegg (1994)
  • Kanoelehua Kaumeheiwa (1974)
  • Kapri Allyse Rose (2002)
  • Karissa Carol Rushing (1991)
  • Karlyne La Rae Abele (1951)
  • Kehaulani Tiffanie Naleialoha Christian (2003)
  • Kendi Lynn Brown (1979)
  • Keone Cook (1981)
  • Keungsuk Kim (1982)
  • Kiaraliz Medina (2013)
  • Kinila Latia Callendar (2005)
  • Kippy Lou Brinkman (1966)
  • La Bruce Sherrill (1940)
  • LaFrance Boyett (1935)
  • LaRue Wilson (1935)
  • Lencola Sullivan (1981)
  • Lenena Ruth Holder (1994)
  • Lennie Josephine Nobles (1946)
  • Ligaya Stice (1990)
  • Loveta Chera-Lyn Cook (1999)
  • Luna Lynn McClain (1947)
  • Madonna Kimberly Emond (2004)
  • Marlinda Mason (1960)
  • Marshawn LaToya Evans (2002)
  • Mattigene Palmore (1939)
  • Melanne Pennington (1985)
  • Merissa Starnes (1998)
  • MerriBeth Cox (2013)
  • Merrilee Gay Miller (1965)
  • Mifaunwy Dolores Shunatona (1941)
  • Mikka Lynn Darby (1989)
  • Mineola Graham (1944)
  • Molla Barnett (1926)
  • Monnie Drake (1940)
  • Monta Anne Maki (1980)
  • Mozelle Ransome (1927)
  • Najla Ghazi (1988)
  • Naylene Vuurens (1979)
  • Nelle Xerminia Owens (1942)
  • Neva Jackson (1923)
  • Noralyn Olsen (1971)
  • Onalee Louise Olson (1966)
  • Osjha Michelle Anderson (2000)
  • Othelia Mitsch (1935)
  • Pennisue Largent (1982)
  • Pepper Donna Shore (1947)
  • Pilialoha Kalai Gaison (2007)
  • Ramsey Carpenter (2015)
  • Rana Beth Jones (2004)
  • Ra Nae Petersen (1977)
  • Rashida Tulani Jolley (2001)
  • Raven Malone (1947)
  • ReJean Ann Bowar (1962)
  • Renelle Kimberly Richardson (2001)
  • Ronnee Brunk (1968)
  • Sabrian Olena Rubin (2005)
  • Savvy Shields (2016)
  • Scarlotte Lee Deupree (2003)
  • Semmelle Shantae Ford (2001)
  • Seva Celeste Day (1976)
  • Shandi Finnessey (2003)
  • Sherrylyn Patecell (1961)
  • ShonDrell Latasha Hunter (2004)
  • Soncee Brown (1992)
  • Stuart Fraser Johnson (1959)
  • Tangra Lea Riggle (2003)
  • Tanssia Zara (1922)
  • Timmy Weston (1945)
  • Tippe Emmott (2013)
  • Titilayo Rachel Adedokun (1994)
  • Tosca Carolyn Masini (1951)
  • Toula Hages Straton (1943)
  • Toyia Tynae Taylor (2000)
  • Trelynda Kerr (1984)
  • Urania Judith Nicholaides (1946)
  • Valli Suzanne Kugler (2003)
  • Vanadora Baker (1940)
  • Veena Michelle Goel (2005)
  • Velva Irene Robbins (1954)
  • Wayring Smathers (1937)
  • Wilda Georgine Bowman (1946)
  • Wildeana Withers (1925)
  • Wren Prather (1973)
  • Yanci Jane Yarbrough (2000)
  • Yetta Haber (1925)
  • Ysleta LaVerne Leissner (1949)
  • Yun Tau Zane (1948)
  • Zasada Lord (1926)
  • Zulma Caballero Lopez (1938)

Which of the above do you like best?

Sources: Miss America Organization, Norma Smallwood – Wikipedia

[Latest update: Aug. 2017]