How popular is the baby name Seeley 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 Seeley.

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Popularity of the baby name Seeley


Posts that mention the name Seeley

Vision-inspired baby names for 2020

vision

Most of the babies conceived during 2019 will be born during 2020 — a year that happens to mirror 20/20 (twenty-twenty), the term we use for perfect vision. It’s such a strong association that, just for fun, I put together a list of vision-related baby names for all those parents anticipating the arrival of 2020 babies…

  • Aisling, Irish, “vision” or “dream.”
  • Basar, Arabic, “sight.”
  • Butta-kuz, Mongolian, “camel eyes.” Implies “wide, beautiful eyes” like Maha and Najla, below.
  • Charopus, ancient Greek, “glad-eyed” or “bright-eyed.” Also spelled Charops.
  • Daisy, from Old English dægeseage, “day’s eye.” Daisies open during the day and close at night.
  • Drishti, Hindi, “gaze.”
  • Hawkeye, originally a character in The Last of the Mohicans (1826).
  • Hitomi, Japanese, “pupil [of the eye].” Can mean other things as well, though, depending on the kanji.
  • Lochan/Lochana, Hindi, “eye.”
  • Maha, Arabic, “wide, beautiful eyes.” Refers to either wild cow eyes or oryx eyes specifically.
  • Maka, Hawaiian, “eyes.” Also: Namaka, “the eyes,” and Makanui, “big eyes.”
  • Mantius/Manto (masc./fem.), from ancient Greek mantis, “seer, prophet.”
  • Najla, Arabic, “wide, beautiful eyes.” Refers to either wild cow eyes or oryx eyes specifically. Also spelled Nagla.
  • Nayan, Hindi, “eye.”
  • Nayra, Aymara, “eye,” “sight,” or “past.”
  • Nazir, Arabic, “observant” or “spectator.” Can mean other things as well, though.
  • Panope/Panopea, ancient Greek, “all-seeing.”
  • Rana, Arabic, “eye-catching.”
  • Ruya, Arabic, “vision” or “dream.”
  • Sibyl, ancient Greek, “prophetess.” Also spelled Sybil.
  • Sullivan, anglicized Irish surname, “descendant of the little dark-eyed one.”
  • Tarisai, Shona, “look at, behold.”
  • Vision, which began appearing in the U.S. baby name data nearly 20 years ago.

And here are some names that simply begin with the word see:

  • Seeley/Seely
  • Seerat/Seerit
  • Seela
  • Seema
  • Seena
  • Seeta
  • Seeya

Finally, a few Esperanto words that could potentially be used as baby names:

  • Vidi, “see.”
  • Vidinda, “worth seeing.”
  • Vido, “sight, view.”
  • Vizio, “vision.”

Which of the names above do you like best?

If you’re expecting a baby in 2020, will you consider using a vision-themed baby name?

How did “Bones” influence baby names?

Characters Seeley Booth and Temperance "Bones" Brennan from Bones.

The TV series “Bones” was on the air from 2005 to 2017, though the most popular years were 2008-2011 (seasons four, five and six).

I’ve never seen the show, but the first names of the two main characters — Seeley Booth (male) and Temperance'”Bones” Brennan (female) — are intriguing, and they made me wonder: did Bones inspire parents to use these names more often for their babies?

Yup, it would seem so!

Here are the numbers for Seeley since 2005:

  • 2018: 38 baby boys and 7 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2017: 36 baby boys and 14 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2016: 40 baby boys and 15 baby girls named Seeley [peak]
  • 2015: 37 baby boys and 15 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2014: 28 baby boys and 7 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2013: 38 baby boys and 8 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2012: 36 baby boys and 11 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2011: 32 baby boys and 12 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2010: 34 baby boys and 9 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2009: 10 baby boys and 8 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2008: unlisted
  • 2007: 7 baby girls named Seeley
  • 2006: unlisted
  • 2005: unlisted

And here are the numbers for Temperance since 2005:

  • 2018: 163 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2017: 190 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2016: 233 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2015: 250 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2014: 322 baby girls named Temperance [rank: 854th]
  • 2013: 289 baby girls named Temperance [rank: 889th]
  • 2012: 320 baby girls named Temperance [rank: 835th]
  • 2011: 274 baby girls named Temperance [rank: 943rd]
  • 2010: 213 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2009: 165 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2008: 88 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2007: 76 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2006: 20 baby girls named Temperance
  • 2005: 8 baby girls named Temperance

I’m a bit surprised by Temperance. Short virtue names like Faith, Grace, Hope and Joy are alive and well, but most of the long virtue names — especially those like Temperance (e.g., Abstinence, Experience, Deliverance, Diligence, Innocence, Obedience, Perseverance, Providence, Reliance, Repentance, Silence) — are not. Only Patience, Constance and Prudence are still around, and they aren’t exactly stylish right now.

How do you feel about the name Temperance?

Sources: Bones (TV series) – Wikipedia, SSA

[Latest update: June 2020]