In 2023, which boy names re-emerged most impressively in the U.S. baby name data (after an absence of at least one year)?
Here are the top 10+ boy-name returns:
- Yamari, 55 baby boys
- Khmari, 24
- Amell, 21 (tie)
- Jozhiel, 21 (tie)
- Nachmen, 18 (tie)
- Riftyn, 18 (tie)
- Jaydence, 17
- Dagim, 16 (tie)
- Jehiel, 16 (tie)
- Adriell, 15 (5-way tie)
- Kamsiyochukwu, 15 (5-way tie)
- Leniel, 15 (5-way tie)
- Rhettlee, 15 (5-way tie)
- Wyndham, 15 (5-way tie)
The return that caught my eye was a little lower on the list — Shohei, given to 13 baby boys last year (after being absent from the data for more than two decades). I’m surprised that the first name of baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani didn’t return a year (or two) earlier than 2023, actually.
If you can think of a likely explanation for any of the returns listed above, please leave a comment!
Source: SSA
Image: Adapted from First leaves Novosibirsk Siberia 24.04.2012 by Mikhail Koninin under CC BY 2.0.
Wyndham seems to be from rising golfer Wyndham Clark.
Thank you, Becca!
Those who are baseball fans were following Shohei’s unique career, the MVP votes, the trade/no trade debates and then the FA possibilities well before 2023, but I’m not sure about the rest of the “normal” population. I think the massive amount of media coverage regarding Shohei’s impending free agency throughout most of 2023, and then his record shattering contract with the Dodgers, was probably enough to catch the attention of even those who barely pay attention to baseball.
As for the other names, I really have no idea, though I’m thinking that maybe Rhettlee was used mainly in the south since both Rhett & Lee are both names associated with the Civil War, etc.
That’s a very good point, Ellyn.