Where did the baby name Learta come from in 1950?

Virginia LeArta Jensen
Virginia LeArta Jensen

The rare baby name Learta was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1950:

  • 1952: unlisted
  • 1951: unlisted
  • 1950: 5 baby girls named Learta [debut]
  • 1949: unlisted
  • 1948: unlisted

What gave the name a nudge that year?

Virginia LeArta Jensen, the 18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur S. Jensen of Blair, Nebraska.

She won the title of “Ideal Farmer’s Daughter” at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago, which was held from late November through early December, 1949.

Virginia’s photo — along with her full name — ran in newspapers across the country around that time. The image above appeared in Life magazine, which noted that:

Miss Jensen’s costume was made of feed bags (a contest requirement) and she received, among other prizes, a ticket to Death of a Salesman.

Do you like the name LeArta? Would you use it?

Sources:

  • Yes, My Darling Daughter.” Life 12 Dec. 1949: 45.
  • “4 Nebraskans win at Chicago.” Sunday Journal and Star 27 Nov. 1949: 1.
  • SSA

Image: © 1949 Life

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