They came, they went, and they never came back!
These baby names are one-hit wonders in the U.S. baby name data. That is, they’ve only popped up once, ever, in the entire dataset of U.S. baby names (which accounts for all names given to at least 5 U.S. babies per year since 1880).
There are thousands of one-hit wonders in the dataset, but the names below have interesting stories behind their single appearance, so these are the one-hits I’m writing specific posts about. Just click on a name to read more.
1890s
- 1898: Maine, Mayne, Philippina, Schley
1900s
- (none yet)
1910s
- 1910: Leneve
- 1913: Colquitt
- 1915: Gorizia
- 1916: Ormi, Ortrude, Trudis, Ysobel
- 1917: Laurece, Tessibel, Westmoreland
- 1918: Allenby
- 1919: Nellora
1920s
- 1920: Dardenella
- 1921: Essfa, Garnelle
- 1922: Donaldine
- 1924: Chadyeane, Derelys, Juneve, Laline, Myraline
- 1925: Valoyce
- 1926: Narice
- 1927: Iyone, Jahala, Mateel, Seroba, Tunny
- 1928: Geraine, Yuvawn
1930s
- 1931: Dixianna, Vergean
- 1932: Ilomae
- 1933: Ardoth, Patsyann, Perilla
- 1934: Veree
- 1935: Rheeta
- 1936: Clarabeth, Thayle, Verilea
- 1937: Swanee, Noreda, Norrita, Noreeta, Noreita, Noritta, Norietta, Norreta, Norretta
- 1938: Valdine
- 1939: Torchy
1940s
- 1940: Janalene, Willkie
- 1941: Nawatha, Saford, Spessard
- 1942: Macarther, Donivee, Royalene, Wainwright, Wavell
- 1943: Angharad
- 1944: Dieatra
- 1945: Chyleen
- 1946: Darlia, Drene
- 1947: Junellen, Miralee
- 1948: Gwyned
- 1949: Judaline
1950s
- 1950: Frosty, Learta, Rosezena
- 1951: Desnee, Glenalee, Jilla
- 1952: Eisenhower, Gevan
- 1953: Jerilou, Judalon, Lastarza
- 1954: Bimbo, Bobbyetta, Topper
- 1955: Tammis, Twig
- 1956: Decca, Deltina, Jimalee
- 1957: Bryndis, Cindye, Gogi, Marsheela, Theonita, Zeline
- 1958: Daintry, Monsita, Sayonara, Tootie
- 1959: Kitza, Kookie
1960s
- 1960: Andamo, Ansara, Bonanza, Claudinette, Devy, Flip, LaVelda, Marpessa, Nedenia, Perriann
- 1961: Gwendalina, Jefre
- 1962: Artra, Chubbie, Clu, Elcid, Gordean, Perette
- 1963: Bouvier, Brycie, Stanja
- 1964: Bavan, Dejuna, Djana, Duuana, Duuna, Deeneen, Dennen, Deaneen, Guendalina, Shevell, Thedy
- 1965: Apasra, Fontilla, Marichal, Mellyora
- 1966: Agena, Bedar, Daktari, Trumell
- 1967: Devara, Malette, Milette, Melette, Mellette, Molette, Ronisue, Tandeka, Twiggy
- 1968: Ondina, Stassa
- 1969: Biafra, Francellia, Troas, Tron
1970s
- 1970: Embra, Gandalf, Quetzy, Shalako
- 1971: Corelle, Corrice, Kwabene, Lawanika, Shangaleza, Shelbra, Unseld
- 1972: Bayete, Genghis, Kattina, Katyna, Kipchoge, Kontina
- 1973: Cedeno, Cymande, Hec, Trevira
- 1974: Condredge, Pashun, Sirica, Sundown
- 1975: Chaffee, Durville, Foxy, Tchalla, Tyneal
- 1976: Comaneci, Suehay, Tavores, Vulnavia
- 1977: Akwete, Bnai, Civona, Debraca, Ibe, Idi, Jitu, Kairaba, Kefentse, Kizi, Kontar, Kuntakinte, Lavare, Loleatta, Makalani, Qiuana, Reannan, Shonski, Sommers, Stardust, Tristica, Wilona
- 1978: Astreia, Boz, Enchantra, Kushana, Namath, Travolta
- 1979: Ayatollah, Dilanjan, Kayatana, Santini, Spanky, Starbuck, Tekulve
1980s
- 1980: Estrada, Kimario, Lencola, Nykeba, Zhivago
- 1981: Crystalgayle, Fame, Nahema, Sadane, Shirret, Tijwana, Zimbabwe
- 1982: Chachi, Shashi, Senchal, Tocarro
- 1983: Cozell, Jeopardy, Tyecha
- 1984: Ecaterina, Etoshia, Mergeron, Quisto, Thawann, Tranel
- 1985: Camacho, Chada, Mattlock, Meyosha, Sadea, Teenamarie
- 1986: Applonia, Calizza, Chardey, Cindal, Codero, Marlesa, Tchanavian, Tereva
- 1987: Condola, Enchantee, Jnay, Matlock
- 1988: Cassarah, Lung, Nattiel, Stedmen
- 1989: Alejandr, Anastasi, Angeliqu, Annamari, Annemari, Antoinet, Bernadet, Cassandr, Cassondr, Christop, Constanc, Demetriu, Dominiqu, Francisc, Geneviev, Jacqueli, Jacquely, Johnatho, Kassandr, Kristofe, Priscill, Sebastia, Dokken, Ikea
1990s
- 1990: Glenne, Latiffa, Trinere, Tyski
- 1991: Dhahran, Eritrea, Quashan, Quaysean, Vaitiare
- 1992: Adeva, Agassi, Ilirida, Iniki, Macauly
- 1993: Ilish, Silk, Thurgood, Tribeca
- 1994: Blancaestela, Keemo, Zhanea, Ziyadah
- 1995: Brescia, Corvina, Mufasa
- 1996: Jumanji
- 1997: Dodi
- 1998: Dameyune, Envyi, Nazr, Phajja, Picabo, Tiriq, Tsianina
- 1999: Quartey, Ukari
2000s
- 2000: Alancia, Iuma, Millenium, Millinia, Rikishi, Sisqo
- 2002: Jyhiem
- 2003: Nasiriyah
- 2004: Dekanye, Heder, Jakanye, Tsitsiki
- 2005: Anhuar, Gemelli, Ginobili, Joemy, Neyzer
- 2006: Narnia, Peregrina, Qorianka, Sensi
- 2007: Crissangel, Edgerin, Euphoria, Jazalle, Tessalee
- 2008: Karmindy
- 2009: Tashard, Wanderlei
2010s
- 2010: Benhur, Goodluck
- 2011: Adrialys
- 2012: Mesut, Ryujin, Ryuki, Thienlong
- 2013: Citori
- 2014: Menachemmendel
- 2015: Ayanami, Maleficent, Rousey, Tamriel
- 2016: Alduin
- 2017: Petehn, Tolkien
2020s
- (none yet)
As I discover (and write about) more one-hit wonders in the data, I’ll add the names/links to this page. In the meanwhile, do you have any favorite one-hit wonder baby names?
P.S. You might also be interested in this list of the top one-hit wonder baby names since 1880…