The Social Security Administration’s annual baby name list only includes names given to 5 or more U.S. babies, of either one gender or the other, per year.
Most rare names never make the list, but a select group have appeared a single time. I like to call these the one-hit wonder baby names.
One-hit wonders tend to pop up with a relatively low number of babies — 5 or 6 — but a handful are given to dozens of babies…only to disappear again the next year! Pretty intriguing, right?
Below are the highest-charting, gender-specific, one-hit wonder names since 1880. The format is: “Girl name(s), number of baby girls; Boy name(s), number of baby boys.”
- 1880: none; Merida, 5
- 1881: Zilpah, 9; Roll, 5
- 1882: none; none
- 1883: none; none
- 1884: none; none
- 1885: Lelie, 5; Ng & Sip, 5
- 1886: Ottillie, 5; none
- 1887: none; Pembroke, 5
- 1888: Etelka & Pantha, 5; Bengiman, 5
- 1889: Litta & Roxa, 5; Edw & Profit, 5
- 1890: Modeste, 8; none
- 1891: Dorilla & Euphemie, 5; Navajo, 5
- 1892: none; Whitelaw & Wint, 5
- 1893: Hedwige, 7; Pomp, 5
- 1894: Onezia, 5; Bess, 5
- 1895: Isal, 7; none
- 1896: Phenie, 5; none
- 1897: Phronie, 5; Rhoda, 7
- 1898: Maine, 9; Schley, 10
- 1899: Pellie, 5; none
- 1900: Henrettia & Ursule, 6; Bruster, 5
- 1901: Kinnie, 5; none
- 1902: Azema & Lelea, 5; none
- 1903: Pheobie, 7; none
- 1904: Berthal, 6; none
- 1905: Mintha, 5; Pioet, 5
- 1906: Nellda, Ocey & Clevia, 5; none
- 1907: Leecy, Odra & Oklahoma, 5; Lanham, 6
- 1908: Artena, Essye, Malvie & Oshie, 5; none
- 1909: Argatha, 5; none
- 1910: Leneve, 7; Capus, 5
- 1911: Gaither, 6; Caro & Lavette, 5
- 1912: Gustina, Iras, Leavy & Senona, 6; Edlow, 7
- 1913: Nixola & Oleane, 6; Gaillard & Rumsey, 6
- 1914: Vica, 8; Secondo, 9
- 1915: Desda & Vonie, 8; Zygmond, 10
- 1916: Alvene, Bleeker, Cloteen, Deelda, Duffie, Iota, Maggielean, Matrona, Mealie, Mishie, Ortrude, Sirkka, Truma, Valasta, Valesta, Valrea & Ysobel, 6; Hafford, 9
- 1917: Florenz & Lutrelle, 9; Annis, Clermont, Loddie, Onslow, Rosswell & Runar, 7
- 1918: Theophila, 10; Hobby, 9
- 1919: Johnniemae, 9; Lorrain, 10
- 1920: Dardenella, 9; Mosby, 9
- 1921: Garnelle, 11; Ive, 9
- 1922: Donaldine, 12; Crafton, 9
- 1923: Giovina & Varena, 8; Arbon, Birchel & Wolcott, 7
- 1924: Klyda, 10; Modell, 9
- 1925: Ivaline & Valoyce, 8; Evell & Walford, 8
- 1926: Narice, 13; Lafon & Nola, 9
- 1927: Genena, Milarain & Seroba, 8; Dalhart, Junor, Maclyn & Mutsuo, 8
- 1928: Boneva, Geane, Lenard, Loeda & Louvene, 7; Dormon, Hearman, Hover & Shoso, 7
- 1929: Miladeen, 9; Edsol, 8
- 1930: Earnease, Lunelle, Magnola & Rhoena, 6; Elice, 7
- 1931: Dixianna & Vergean, 7; Leroyce, 7
- 1932: Dolorese, 9; Mannon, 7
- 1933: Garnieta, 8; Vondal, 7
- 1934: Delaris, Derene, Ervene, Myrline & Rheata, 6; Cardis, Carloss, Cleophes, Dockie, Exie, Pettus & Shelvie, 6
- 1935: Nerita, 14; Deuel, 8
- 1936: Arolyn & Verilea, 7; Rolyn, 8
- 1937: Noreda, 17; Seavy, 6
- 1938: Clione, 16; Dall & Vallee, 6
- 1939: Melsa, 9; Karrol, 7
- 1940: Lindola, 13; Willkie, 13
- 1941: Shirey, 7; Saford, 11
- 1942: Arvina, Floranne, Kaaran & Roine, 6; Macarther, 10
- 1943: Jerdine, 7; Deming, Dilworth, Eugne, Keener, Rhodell, Rothwell & Sammul, 5
- 1944: Carolsue, 11; Condy, Hennry, Lemmon & Persell, 5
- 1945: Diedri, 10; Kermon, 6
- 1946: Darlia, 13; Cotis, Dowl, Lohn, Rouldph, Royace, Sherryl, Speedy & Trudy, 5
- 1947: Junellen, 12; Brookie; 7
- 1948: Gwyned, 9; Beasley, 6
- 1949: Jerrilyne, 9; Bradbury, Bradfield, Buckey, Hubie, Jubentino, Kurth, Nickola, Varnum & Waynne, 5
- 1950: Gladystine, 9; Cresenciano, Frosty & Thurnell, 6
- 1951: Glenalee & Lynnis, 9; Bronnie & Marvine, 8
- 1952: Charliss, 7; Gevan, 12
- 1953: Judalon, 11; Credell, Larrey & Uldis, 7
- 1954: Lilette & Ufemia, 7; Corneall, Danail, Derf, Luann & Michie, 6
- 1955: Dainette, 14; Christophel, 9
- 1956: Tirrell, 13; Auddie & Naymon, 7
- 1957: Theonita, 17; Melivn, 7
- 1958: Deedy & Lanor, 8; Brete, 7
- 1959: Carmelyn, 8; Tomm, 8
- 1960: Devy, 27; Andamo, 15
- 1961: Shurla, 17; Jefre, 21
- 1962: Perette, 16; Daphne & Schell, 7
- 1963: Chrysanne, 12; Darrayl & Daryell, 8
- 1964: Deeneen, 12; Deneen & Kenndy, 7
- 1965: Timolyn, 9; Alfonson & Marichal, 8
- 1966: Agena, 15; Alfy, 15
- 1967: Malette, 20; Antal, 8
- 1968: Ondina, 15; Berto, Christoopher, Deith, Mardi, Redginald & Yoram, 6
- 1969: Dameron, 15; Shoan, 9
- 1970: Dardi, 14; Cosmos, 9
- 1971: Anjanet, 9; Demea, 12
- 1972: Tyhessia, 17; Christerphor, 8
- 1973: Desheila, 18; Chandar, 13
- 1974: Charnissa, 32; Sirica, 8
- 1975: Russchelle, 24; Darweshi, Tchalla & Unborn, 8
- 1976: Norlisha, 16; Lebrone, 8
- 1977: Kashka, 16; Ebay, 12
- 1978: Kushana, 23; Quarterrio & Travolta, 11
- 1979: Kitzie, 27; Dilanjan & Terdell, 13
- 1980: Nykeba, 26; Kimario, 13
- 1981: Tijwana, 18; Cetric & Dharmesh, 8
- 1982: Ebelina, 11; Chachi & Chezarae, 9
- 1983: Shadava, 25; Tio, 12
- 1984: Meghaan, 36; Quisto & Ragene, 9
- 1985: Miceala, 16; Sophan, 8
- 1986: Shaquenta, 13; Sarith, 11
- 1987: Condola & Shayeeda, 12; Calbe, 9
- 1988: Armisha, 16; Nattiel, 10
- 1989:
- Alexandr, 301; Christop, 1082 (glitch names)
- Cesilie, 10; Madeleine, 10 (non-glitch names)
- 1990: Jakkia & Shawnic, 16; Pajtim, 13
- 1991: Deangelis & Jeniqua, 13; Quaysean, 11
- 1992: Caleesha, 17; Kendrae, 11
- 1993: Solmaira, 15; Shanquille, 9
- 1994: Mccaela, 20; Dontonio, 11
- 1995: Shieda, 14; Jamiroquan, 13
- 1996: Sidea, 13; Jervontae, 12
- 1997: Jachai, 10; Asbiel & Daytwon, 9
- 1998: Rosisela, 14; Tamija, 14
- 1999: Ukari, 16; Tyreace, 9
- 2000: Daebreon & Jadakiss, 13; Zaykeese, 13
- 2001: Joharis, 12; Kya, 13
- 2002: Eshanti, 27; Albieri, 12
- 2003: Saribel, 22; Amareion, 12
- 2004: Janayra, 12; Mikayla & Quanye, 11
- 2005: Milenka, 13; Johnbenedict, 14
- 2006: Sarela, 26; Sunel, 14
- 2007: Aidsa & Madelis, 30; Joset, 11
- 2008: Yaindhi, 29; Jometh, 23
- 2009: Shastelyn, 34; Tyten, 11
- 2010: Rossibell, 17; Coopar, 14
- 2011: Jocell, 31; Maurkice, 13
- 2012: Jeiza, 12; Chander, Drexton, Dristan, Elimelec, Hadeed, Khodee & Vardhan, 8
- 2013: Jennicka, 15; Jaiceion, 11
- 2014: Hannaley, 21; Zacardi, 11
- 2015: Nadyalee, 17; Jersen, 21
See anything interesting?
Some of the above — Narice (1926), Saford (1941), Gevan (1952) and Jefre (1961) — are also on the top debuts list.
P.S. I’ll come back every few years and update this list with the most recent pairs of names. In the meanwhile, for more one-hit wonder content, check out this list of interesting one-hit wonder baby names…
Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.
The very first on the list = Merida = is the name of the Disney Princess in the movie “Brave”. I am surprised it did not make in back on the list the last couple of years!
I wonder how many of these are misspellings – honest ones. I have a friend who named her son “Jerab” thinking it was biblical. Many months later, she realized that what she meant was “Jerid” but had mispronounced it! I have a great uncle named “Charles of the North Isaacson” born in the late 1890s in Northern Michigan. Obviously, he was named for the the area in which he was born. Perhaps some of these names reflect that, as well.
The surprising thing about the 1880’s Meridas is the fact that they are registered boys, not girls. This makes them quite unique.
Girls named Merida date back to 1916 in the SSA stats.
@Diana – Some could certainly be honest mistakes.
The story behind Gwyned is really interesting: http://life.time.com/culture/career-girl-portrait-of-a-young-womans-life-in-1948-new-york/#1
Thanks so much for finding that, Becca!
It’s an interesting list.
Of nearly 400 names here only 46 appear in our database of ~60,000 popular names.
The most popular of those are: Tio, Mikayla, Daphne, Madeleine, Trudy, Rhoda and Nola
So in most of those cases, it looks like a question of why was a popular girls’ name suddenly given to a group of boys?
Good observation, Rachel. Hm…