Baby name story: Rajah

In late 1912, the Shriners of Rajah Temple in Reading, Pennsylvania, elected a new potentate.

(Translations: “Shriners” are members of a men’s fraternal organization today called Shriners International, a “temple” is a Shriners building, and a “potentate” is the leader of a temple.)

At that 1912 election ceremony, it was revealed that one Shriner had named his son after Rajah Temple:

Following this presentation, there was another surprise when Noble Edward Scholl of Allentown, was called to the floor by Potentate Reichenbach. Noble Scholl promptly responded when Chief Rabban George W. Beggs stepped forward and in a neat speech said that Rajah Temple felt highly honored to have a baby boy named “Rajah” after the Temple and upon learning that Noble Scholl was the happy father, presented him for his son, with a beautiful silver cup and spoon inscribed “Rajah” and both containing the initials of the baby. Noble Scholl fittingly responded.

The boy’s full name was Theodore Rajah Scholl.

Update, Nov. 2024: Just discovered a second person with a Shriners-inspired name: Afifi Kelly, born in Tacoma, WA, in late 1909. According to her obituary, she was named in honor of the Afifi Temple‘s marching band, which her father had organized in mid-1909.

Source:

  • “Shriners Select New Potentate for Rajah.” Reading Eagle 27 Dec. 1912: 1+
  • Afifi Puckett Obituary (orig. pub. in the Tacoma News Tribune)

What turned Suave into a baby name in 1988?

The single "My Girl" (1988) by Suavé.
Suavé single

When I first spotted Suave in the U.S. baby name data, I immediately thought of the Gerardo song “Rico Suave” (1990). But that wasn’t the explanation, because the song was released two years after the name first appeared:

  • 1990: 6 baby boys named Suave
  • 1989: 7 baby boys named Suave
  • 1988: 17 baby boys named Suave [debut/peak]
  • 1987: unlisted
  • 1986: unlisted

So where did Suave come from?

The inspiration was singer Suavé (pronounced swah-VAY), born Waymond Anderson. His cover of the Temptations’ 1964 song “My Girl” reached #20 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in 1988.

The English word suave means “charming, confident.” (It comes from the Latin word suavis, meaning “sweet, pleasant.”) Here’s how Ebony magazine defined Suavé’s name in a late 1988 article about up-and-coming singers:

Suave means sophisticated and urbane, but it is also the name of one of Los Angeles’ hottest solo artists.

What are your thoughts on the name Suave/Suavé?

Sources:

P.S. The 1991 movie My Girl, which takes its title from the same Temptations song, gave a boost to the name Vada…

Pop culture baby name game, 2011 (part 2)

Britney Spears album

In the original Pop Culture Baby Name Game, we tried to come up with pop culture-inspired names we think will debut on the SSA’s baby name list in 2011.

But why limit it to debuts? Let’s start another game, this one for names already on the list.

Which baby names will get a boost in 2011, thanks to popular culture?

Here are some possibilities:

  • Siri
  • Atlantis
  • Alaric
  • Pippa, Kate, William (royal wedding)
  • Casey, Caylee, Anthony (Casey Anthony trial)
  • Amy (Amy Winehouse)
  • Gabrielle (Gabrielle Giffords)
  • Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Cairo, and similar place-names (Arab Spring)
  • Florence (mentioned by Julie)
  • Betty, Adele, Gale, Monroe, and more (all mentioned by Maria)

What other names can you think of?

The rankings for 2011 will be out in a few weeks, so get your ideas in soon!

UPDATE, May 2012: Here are the results!

More Titanic-inspired baby names

RMS Titanic
RMS Titanic

This Sunday, April 15, is the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

We’ve already talked about two Titanic-inspired baby names, Archibald Astor and Edwin Titanic, but there are others.

Here’s what I’ve found so far:

  • Dolly Titanic Ranshaw was born in Iowa on Jun. 27, 1912, to Tom and Karla Ranshaw.
  • Mary Catherine Titanic Marcotte was born in Ontario on Apr. 30, 1912, to Albert and Delvina Marcotte.
  • Paul Titanic Maloney was born in Massachusetts on Apr. 8, 1912, to Mark and Catharine Maloney. (Like Edwin, he was born a few days before the disaster, so clearly his parents didn’t choose his name right away — a common practice during that era.)
  • Sara Carpathia Aks was born in Virginia on March 12, 1913, to Titanic survivor Leah Aks and her husband Samuel (who was not aboard). She was named after the rescue ship RMS Carpathia.
  • Titanic Grissom was born in Arkansas c.1912 to Edward and Teary Grissom.

Know of any others?

Image: RMS Titanic by F. G. O. Stuart