Here’s another baby name with a Cosby Show association…
Phylicia Rashad, who played everyone’s favorite TV mom Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, married NFL sportscaster (and former player) Ahmad Rashad in December of 1985.
Ahmad had proposed to Phylicia on-air the month before.
About a year later, on December 11, 1986, they welcomed a daughter named Condola Phylea Rashad.
And in 1987, we see the baby name Condola appear for the first and only time on the baby name charts:
- 1989: unlisted
- 1988: unlisted
- 1987: 12 baby girls named Condola [debut]
- 1986: unlisted
- 1985: unlisted
Condola was named after Ahmad’s mother, Condola Moore. (Ahmad Rashad was born Robert Moore; he changed his name when he converted to Islam in the early ’70s.)
Today, Condola Rashad is an actress — just like her mother.
And — how about Condoleezza?
Yes, her name is very similar. I don’t know where Condola Moore’s first name came from, but Condoleezza Rice’s was inspired by the Italian musical term con dolcezza (“with sweetness”).
Ah… I didn’t know THAT. Thanks.