Happy New Year, everyone!
So here’s the question of the day: Have any babies ever been named after the New Year?
The answer is yes.
Notably, at least six people have been named Happy New Year:
- Happy New Year Boor (female), born on January 1, 1926, in Pennsylvania
- Happy New Year Dennis (female), born in 1920 in South Africa
- Happy New Year Grierson, born on January 1, 1896, in Oregon
- Happy New Year Kauakahi (female), born on January 1, 1907, in Hawaii
- Happy New Year Kapahu (male), born circa 1907 in Hawaii
- Happy Newyear Kerwenzee (female), born circa 1877 in Ontario
Several hundred others have simply been named New Year.
The earliest examples I’ve seen come from the 1600s:
- Newyear Dale (male), baptized on January 6, 1675, in Yorkshire, England
- Newyear Harrison (male), baptized on January 2, 1687, in Yorkshire, England
- New Year Carlile (female), baptized on January 12, 1690, in Cumberland, England
- New Years Mitchinson (male), baptized on December 31, 1691, in Cumberland, England
- New Year Ireland (male), baptized on February 5, 1694, in Yorkshire, England
Here are a few more from the 1700s:
- New Year Dowthwait (male), baptized on January 1, 1731 in Yorkshire, England
- New Year Prudget (male), baptized on January 15, 1737, in Suffolk, England
- Hannah New Year Chamberlain (female), baptized on January 7, 1759 in Northampton, England
- Newyear Laycock (male), baptized on January 13, 1779 in Yorkshire, England
- Charles Newyear Dunn (male), baptized on January 3, 1790, in Lincolnshire, England
And a few more from the 1800s:
- William New Year Sadler (male), baptized on January 2, 1819, in Norfolk, England
- Aaron New Years Enderby (male), baptized on January 9, 1831, in Lincolnshire, England
- Henry New Year Norris (male), born on January 1, 1845, in Illinois
- Frances New Year Tobin (female), born on December 31, 1872, in Minnesota
- Jesse New Years Harris (male), born on January 1, 1891, in Alabama
And, finally, a few more from the early 1900s:
- Columbus New Year Clanton (male), born on January 1, 1900, in Alabama
- Curtis New Year Cooper (male), born on January 1, 1905, in Texas
- New Years George Many Ribs (male), born on January 1, 1910, in North Dakota
- New Year Bell Baine (female), born on January 1, 1912, in Alabama
- New Year Day McAdoo (male), born on January 1, 1912, in Arkansas
- He went by the nickname “Day.”
Interested in checking out some other holiday-themed baby names? Here are posts on Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas, Christmas Day, Christmas Carol, and Christmas Tree.
Sources: FamilySearch.org, Find a Grave
Top image: Adapted from Bellagio Christmas tree by Bert Kaufmann under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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[Latest update: Dec. 2024]
Hi,
My name is Sydney Lono and I come from Hawai?i. This lady born by the name of Happy New Year Kauakahi is my great grand mother. Just out of curiosity, how did you find my Tutu?s name? where did you look to seek the answers to your questions. I am currently doing my genealogy and was just curious on how you came across my ancestors name.
Thanks again for your wonderful recognition of my tutu and I hope all is well with you and your family.
Until then,
Sydney
Hi Sydney,
Thanks for the comment. I found her name at FamilySearch, which, in terms of records, is probably the best free resource out there. (At least out of the ones I know of.) Here’s a link directly to the search page. Best of luck with the genealogy!