The curious name Kahne has been in the baby name data recently as a boy name, but it first appeared as a girl name — just once — during the 1950s:
- 1960: unlisted
- 1959: unlisted
- 1958: 5 baby girls name Kahne [debut]
- all 5 born in Louisiana
- 1957: unlisted
- 1956: unlisted
What put it in the data originally?
I’d say locally famous Louisiana college student Kahne Dipaola.
In the fall of 1958, Kahne — a senior at Northwestern State College (in Natchitoches) — won a beauty contest and became the school’s very first “Lady of the Bracelet.” She was presented with a gold bracelet to wear whenever she represented the school in public. (You can see the bracelet on her arm in the photo above, taken at the school’s Halloween dance.)
The honorary bracelet has been passed down to each new Lady of the Bracelet (or “Miss LOB”) ever since. These days it’s not the original anymore, though.
Do you like the name Kahne? What’s your guess on pronunciation? (I’m saying “Connie” in my head, but who knows.)
Sources:
- NSU Student Handbook, 2021-2022
- “‘Lady of the Bracelet’ Presented at Friday’s AWS Masquerade Dance.” Current Sauce 7 Nov. 1958: 1.
- “Potpourri Assembly Held.” Current Sauce 26 Jul. 1956: 1.
P.S. Speaking of LOB…here’s a baby named Elloebee. :)