Baby born on day of Earth orbit, named Orbit

On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

Many of the baby boys born in the U.S. that day were named John Glenn to mark the event.

But the boy born to Wynona and Harvey Ray Hill of Ogden, Utah, was given something a little different. His name? LaMar Orbit Hill.

The editors at Life magazine thought the name was so interesting that, a couple of weeks later, they published a photo of LaMar Orbit Hill and opined that “this baby might easily be the first American ever to be so christened.”

As it happens, he wasn’t the first. Dozens of Americans born before 1962 were named Orbit. (My favorite example: Orbit Paul Moon, born in 1902.)

He also wasn’t the only baby named Orbit that particular day. A boy born into the Reeves family of Gregg County, Texas, on February 20, 1962, was named Glenn Orbit Reeves.

Sources:

• “Utah Parents Name Arrival Orbit.” Florence Times 27 Feb. 1962, section 2: 8.
• “Meet Orbit Hill.” Life 9 Mar. 1962: 2.
• FamilySearch.org

Image: Adapted from The Earth seen from Apollo 17 (NASA/Apollo 17 crew)

[Latest update: Sept. 2024]