These days, when you say the name Shakira, most people think of the Colombian singer (“Hips Don’t Lie”) who became famous in the U.S. in the early 2000s. In fact, the name saw peak usage in 2002 thanks to her.
But the Arabic name Shakira (which means “thankful”) first caught the attention of America’s expectant parents decades earlier:
- 1973: 74 baby girls named Shakira
- 1972: 20 baby girls named Shakira
- 1971: 7 baby girls named Shakira
- 1970: 12 baby girls named Shakira [debut]
- 1969: unlisted
- 1968: unlisted
Why?
Because of Shakira Baksh (later known as Shakira Caine).
She was born and raised in British Guiana to Muslim Indian parents who had relocated from the Kashmir region of British India.
In 1967, she won the Miss Guyana contest and placed third in the Miss World contest in London. Following that, she became a London-based model and actress.
In early 1970, a photograph of Shakira was published in Parade (the Sunday newspaper magazine distributed in U.S. papers nationwide). Below the photo was a short article:
Ever since Diahann Carroll hit it big in the “Julia” TV series, television producers the world ever have been scouting for other talented black beauties to star in a weekly program.
In England, Shakira Baksh, 22, who came to London from Guyana in 1967 as contender in the Miss World beauty contest, has just been signed in a new and as yet unfilled weekly series.
The objective in starring Shakira is to attract a large share of the non-white TV audience.
Right on cue, Shakira’s name debuted in the U.S. baby name data.
Shakira Baksh never had a weekly TV show, but she did star in various TV commercials — including one for Maxwell House coffee that English actor Michael Caine (star of Alfie) happened to see. He was so impressed by Shakira’s beauty that he tracked her down and asked her out.
The couple got married in January of 1973, and we see a corresponding increase in the usage of her name the same year.
They went on to appear together in the movie The Man Who Would Be King (in 1975) and on the cover of People magazine (in 1976).
What are your thoughts on the name Shakira?
Sources:
- Shakira Caine – Wikipedia
- “Black Beauty.” Parade 15 Feb. 1970.
- Hauptfuhrer, Fred. “What’s It All About, Alfie?” People 1 Mar. 1976.
- Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin Answer the Web’s Most Searched Questions | WIRED – YouTube [vid]
- SSA
Images: Clippings from Time magazine (15 Jan. 1973) and the cover of People magazine (1 Mar. 1976)
I noticed that Shakira made its mark in the UK as well – it seemingly first appeared in England & Wales in 1969 and, though little used for the first 5 years or so, there seems to be an uneven split between Muslims and non-Muslims giving this name to their daughters.
Thanks for the extra information!
Shakira is slated to perform during halftime at the Superbowl, so perhaps another spike in usage is just around the corner.
Perhaps!
(I would love it if one day a Superbowl commercial ended up influencing baby names…)