How popular is the baby name Lestat 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 Lestat.

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Popularity of the baby name Lestat


Posts that mention the name Lestat

Where did the baby name Lestat come from in 1995?

The character Lestat from the movie "Interview with the Vampire" (1994)
Lestat from “Interview with the Vampire

Novelist Anne Rice created the aristocratic, arrogant vampire Lestat de Lioncourt for her 1976 debut novel Interview with the Vampire.

How did she come up with his name?

I’d thought Lestat was an old Louisiana name. I was so certain that I didn’t bother to look it up. I learned later that the name was actually Lestan. Was that a Freudian slip or what?

(Freudian slip because she’d based the character on her husband Stan.)

In late 1994, the movie adaptation of Interview with the Vampire was released. In the film, Lestat was played by actor Tom Cruise.

And in 1995, right on cue, the name Lestat debuted in the U.S. baby name data:

  • 1997: 10 baby boys with the name Lestat
  • 1996: 7 baby boys with the name Lestat
  • 1995: 5 baby boys with the name Lestat [debut]
  • 1994: unlisted
  • 1993: unlisted

Since then, hundreds of U.S. baby boys have been named Lestat. And records show that many others got Lestat as a middle name.

What are your thoughts on the name Lestat?

Source: Kellerman, Stewart. “Other Incarnations of the Vampire Author.” New York Times 7 Nov. 1988, C15-16.

Spelling words backwards to create names

We’ve talked about flipping surnames into forenames before. What about flipping other words into forenames? Here are four real-life examples:

Alucard = Dracula, backwards. If you like the vampire associations of Lestat and Renesmee, Alucard might be right up your alley. At least 25 US baby boys have been named Alucard:

  • 2012: 6 baby boys named Alucard
  • 2011: unlisted
  • 2010: unlisted
  • 2009: 5 baby boys named Alucard
  • 2008: unlisted
  • 2007: 7 baby boys named Alucard
  • 2006: 7 baby boys named Alucard

Nacirema = American, backwards. At least 5 U.S. baby girls have been named Nacirema:

  • 2009: 5 baby girls named Nacirema

Nevaeh = Heaven, backwards. From a mere 5 baby girls in 1997 to the massive numbers below, at least at least 55,677 US baby girls (and 357 boys!) have been named Nevaeh. Here are the recent numbers and rankings for baby girls specifically:

  • 2011: 5,402 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 39th]
  • 2011: 6,112 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 33rd]
  • 2010: 6,429 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 25th]
  • 2009: 6,118 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 34th]
  • 2008: 6,109 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 34th]
  • 2007: 6,812 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 31st]
  • 2006: 5,951 baby girls named Nevaeh [rank: 43rd]

And don’t forget all the variant forms: Nevaeha, Anevaeh, Nevaehlee, Nevaehly, Nevaehia, Neveah, Neveaha, Nevayah, Neviah, Nevaya, Neveyah, Nevea, Nevae, Neviyah, Nevaha, Neveya, Navaeh, Naveah, Naveyah, Navayah, Navea, Naviyah, Naveya, Naviya, Navaeha, Niveah, Nivaeh, etc. Speaking of variant forms, how about…

Nevaehtnes = Sent Heaven, backwards. Though I’m sure these parents had “Heaven-sent” in mind. At least 5 U.S. baby girls have been named Nevaehtnes:

  • 2010: 5 baby girls named Nevaehtnes

Know of any other word-flip baby names? Or, can you invent one off the top of your head?