The curious name Bibb debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1926. In fact, it was the most impressive debut name of the year. But it only popped up in the data a total of three times:
- 1936: unlisted
- 1935: unlisted
- 1934: 9 baby boys named Bibb — 7 born in Alabama
- 1933: unlisted
- […]
- 1928: unlisted
- 1927: 12 baby boys named Bibb — all born in Alabama
- 1926: 14 baby boys named Bibb — all born in Alabama
- 1925: unlisted
- 1924: unlisted
Where did it come from?
My initial guess was 1920s Major League baseball player Bibb Falk. Then I checked the SSA’s state-by-state data, and saw that most of the usage was happening in Alabama. That led me to Alabama politician Bibb Graves.
David Bibb Graves (who went by his middle name, which was also his mother’s maiden name) was a two-time Governor of Alabama. He was first elected in 1926, serving from 1927 to 1931. He was elected for a second time in 1934, serving again from 1935 to 1939.
Notably, many of the Alabama babies named Bibb were given Graves as a middle name. Examples include…
- Bibb Graves Adams (b. 1926)
- Bibb Graves White (b. 1927)
- Bibb Graves Watson (b. 1927)
What are your thoughts on Bibb as a first name?
Sources: Bibb Graves – Wikipedia, Find a Grave, SSA
I know that there is a Bibb County, Alabama (cause I live in Bibb County, Georgia and search engine results sometimes give us the AL one).
On the Bibb County, Alabama Wikipedia page, it states that the first governor of Alabama was William Wyatt Bibb. May have something to do with it, dunno. I guess it’s a name rich in Alabama history.
My family is from Alabama, and my great-grandfather had a cousin named Bibb. I have no idea where his parents got his name though, because this Bibb was born in 1903. I do know his middle initial was G, but I always thought it stood for George after his father. Maybe I’m wrong? Do you have any ideas?
@Emily – As far as I can tell, Bibb Graves hadn’t been elected to any offices as early as 1903, so I don’t think the “G” would be for Graves.