What brought the baby name Fonzie back in the 1970s?

The character Fonzie from the TV series "Happy Days" (1974-1984)
Fonzie from “Happy Days“

The name Fonzie — a nickname for Alfonso (and similar names) — appeared in the U.S. baby name data a handful of times during the early 20th century.

Then, after a four-decade absence from the data, Fonzie suddenly experienced a brief revival:

  • 1979: unlisted
  • 1978: unlisted
  • 1977: 8 baby boys named Fonzie
  • 1976: 6 baby boys named Fonzie
  • 1975: 9 baby boys named Fonzie
  • 1974: unlisted
  • 1973: unlisted

Why?

Because of the popular character Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (played by Henry Winkler) from the TV series Happy Days, which premiered in 1974.

The main character of the series (which was set in the 1950s) was wholesome Wisconsin high schooler Richie Cunningham. Richie’s unlikely best friend, Fonzie, was a greaser who wore a leather jacket, rode a motorcycle, and worked as an auto mechanic (having dropped out of high school). Fonzie was the show’s breakout character.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Fonzie?

Sources: Happy Days – Wikipedia, SSA

P.S. The Happy Days spin-offs Joanie Loves Chachi and Out of the Blue also influenced U.S. baby names…

[Latest update: April 2023]

Where did the baby name Chachi come from in 1982?

The characters Joanie and Chachi from the TV series "Joanie Loves Chachi" (1982-1983)
Joanie and Chachi of “Joanie Loves Chachi“

The TV show Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-1983) was a Happy Days spin-off that focused on the characters Joanie Cunningham (sister of Richie) and Charles “Chachi” Arcola (cousin of Fonzie).

Joanie Loves Chachi didn’t last long, but it did make an impact on expectant parents.

In 1982, not only did the baby name Chachi show up in the U.S. baby name data for the first and only time, but the baby name Joanie was boosted back into the top 1,000 one last time:

Boys named ChachiGirls named Joanie
1984.86
1983.129
19829*176 [rank: 876th]
1981.130
1980.132
*Debut

Later that year, though, ABC’s Joanie Loves Chachi got destroyed (ratings-wise) by NBC’s The A-Team. Chachi never appeared on the charts again, and Joanie went downhill until it fell off the SSA’s list entirely (i.e., was given to fewer than five baby girls) in 2008.

P.S. Here’s the cheesy Joanie Loves Chachi opening theme song. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Update (2/26/15) – Just spotted the Chachi-variant Shashi, which was a one-hit the same year.

When can we officially call Aubrey a girl name?

I found the comments on the recent “Aubrey vs. Audrey” post very interesting. Several people stated that they wouldn’t name a baby girl Aubrey because Aubrey is a boy name.

They’re correct, of course. Aubrey has been given to baby boys for hundreds of years.

But, if they’re in the U.S., they’re also incorrect. Here, Aubrey has been used primarily for baby girls since the mid-1970s, and the name is more popular for females right now than it’s ever been for males.

So, in terms of history, Aubrey is a boy name. But in terms of usage, at least in this region, Aubrey is a girl name.

I wonder…for those in the “Aubrey is a boy name” camp (and in the U.S.), how long would Aubrey have to be used primarily for girls before you’d accept it as a girl name? Or would you refuse to accept it as a girl name, regardless of usage?

Where did the baby name Daughtry come from in 2007?

Daughtry's self-titled 2006 album.
Daughtry album

Chris Daughtry, American Idol alum and Daughtry vocalist, welcomed fraternal twins yesterday. He and his wife chose the names Adalynn (girl) and Noah (boy).

But that’s not really what I want to talk about. The birth of the twins just reminded me of an interesting baby name I spotted not long ago in the data. And what name would that be? Daughtry itself, of course.

Chris Daughtry competed on the fifth season of American Idol, which aired during the first half of 2006. His rock band’s self-titled debut album was released in late November that same year. The album became “the fastest-selling rock debut in the 16-year history of the Billboard album chart’s sales tracking system,” according to Hollywood.com.

In 2007, not only was Daughtry’s album Daughtry the “biggest-selling record in America,” but the name Daughtry appeared for the first time in the U.S. baby name list:

  • 2009: 6 baby boys named Daughtry
  • 2008: 11 baby boys named Daughtry
  • 2007: 6 baby boys named Daughtry [debut]
  • 2006: unlisted
  • 2005: unlisted

At least 23 33 baby Daughtrys have been born in the U.S. so far.

How many more do you think will be born in 2010? Turns out the name appeared on the list for one more year, but hasn’t been back since.

The English surname Daughtry is of Norman French origin and originally referred to someone from Hauterive, a town in in northwestern France. The town name is derived from the Old French phrase haute rive, meaning “high bank.”

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