From 1929 to 1930, the baby name Ardeth saw a dramatic rise in usage — dramatic enough to boost the name into the U.S. top 1,000 for the first time.
- 1932: 55 baby girls named Ardeth [rank: 954th]
- 1931: 58 baby girls named Ardeth [rank: 912th]
- 1930: 121 baby girls named Ardeth [rank: 629th]
- 1929: 38 baby girls named Ardeth
- 1928: 27 baby girls named Ardeth
What caused the spike?
The Gladys Johnson story Girl Unafraid, which was serialized in newspapers across the country during 1930.
The story’s main character was Ardeth Carroll, “a Titian-haired, amber-eyed” shop-girl who fell in love with a man named Ken Gleason. The problem? Ken was already engaged to wealthy Cecile Parker.
According to an advertisement for the serialization,
The silent struggle between these proud modern women, with Ardeth pitting her beauty, her wit and her courage against Cecile’s wealth and influence, makes one of the most thrilling love stories ever published.
What are your thoughts on the name Ardeth?
P.S. The similar name Ardoth popped up several years later for an entirely different reason…
Sources:
- “Girl Unafraid.” Journal and Courier [Lafayette, Indiana] 14 Aug. 1930: 3.
- “Girl Unafraid.” Winona Republican-Herald 14 Jun. 1930: 8.
- “Woman vs. Woman” [Advertisement]. Oregon Statesman 20 Sept. 1930: 2.
- SSA
Image: Clipping from the Winona Republican-Herald (14 Jun. 1930)