When I first noticed the name Jovon popping up in the U.S. baby name data, I thought of Jovan Musk. But the Musk was from the ’70s, and the name first appeared a decade earlier:
- 1962: unlisted
- 1961: 5 baby girls named Jovon
- 1960: 10 baby girls named Jovon [debut]
- 1959: unlisted
- 1958: unlisted
So, what put it on the map?
An actress named Jovon Monteil, who was making guest appearances on TV in the late 1950s and early 1960s. (The image is from Sea Hunt.) She was also in one movie: Born Reckless (1959).
Jovon’s real name was Louise Davis and she was originally from Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Journal noted in late 1957 that “Jovon Monteil” was “her newly chosen professional name.”
By the end of 1960 she was married and had a baby (named Michelle), which is likely why she stopped pursuing a career in entertainment.
The names Jovon and Jovan both saw a steep rise in usage in the ’70s thanks to Jovan Musk, put out by the Chicago-based Jovan company. (Here’s a long list of perfume-inspired baby names.)
Sources:
- “Jovon Monteil Completes Part in ‘Born Reckless’.” Albuquerque Journal 22 Dec. 1957: 15.
- “Beauty Contest Winner.” Albuquerque Journal 21 Jan. 1962: 15.