The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word charade as “an empty or deceptive act or pretense.”
Given this rather unsavory meaning, it’s surprising that a handful of parents named their baby girls Charade in the 1960s:
- 1968: unlisted
- 1967: 5 baby girls named Charade
- 1966: unlisted
- 1965: unlisted
- 1964: 6 baby girls named Charade [debut]
- 1963: unlisted
So what was the influence here?
That debut in 1964 can be attributed to the movie Charade (1963) and/or the movie’s theme song, also called “Charade.”
The movie was a romantic comedy/thriller starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant that came out in December of 1963 (less than a month after the Kennedy assassination). Here’s how TCM sums it up: “A beautiful widow tries to find her husband’s lost fortune while eluding the killers who want it themselves.”
(Interesting fact: The movie fell out of copyright immediately upon release because the word “copyright” was mistakenly omitted from the title screen.)
The song was a sad-sounding Parisian waltz composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Henry Mancini’s version reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1963. Crooner Andy Williams also released a version that managed to reach the top 100 that year (but just barely — 100th place in January).
What are your thoughts on the baby name Charade?
Sources: Charade – Merriam-Webster, Charade (1963) – TCM.com, Charade (1963 song) – Wikipedia, SSA