According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Janelle saw a relatively steep rise in usage beginning in 1977 and continuing through 1978. In 1979, the name reached its highest-ever usage (in terms of number of babies):
- 1980: 1,396 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 194th]
- 1979: 1,415 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 186th]
- 1978: 1,384 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 186th]
- 1977: 1,069 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 232nd]
- 1976: 760 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 302nd]
- 1975: 733 baby girls named Janelle [rank: 311th]
What kicked off the rise?
Trinidadian beauty queen Janelle Commissiong, who was crowned Miss Universe in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in July of 1977.
Notably, she was the first Black woman to win the title of Miss Universe. She was also the first Black woman to be voted Miss Photogenic (by the press photographers covering the event).
Several months after the pageant, Janelle was featured on the cover of Jet magazine. In her interview with Jet, Janelle joked about the fact that Miss Universe does not include a talent competition:
“If there was (the talent segment) I really can’t think of anything that I do to entertain people that I could go on a show and do. If talent was involved I really don’t know if I would have entered,” she said with a chuckle.
Miss Universe pageant does, however, feature a national costume competition. Janelle’s costume — a loose gown of iridescent silk and a pair of massive, shimmering wings — was inspired by the hummingbird, a symbol of the island of Trinidad.
In another interview, Janelle mentioned the origin of her first name: “My mother found my name, Janelle, in a book.”
What are your thoughts on the name Janelle?
P.S. In 2017, a street in Port of Spain (the capital of Trinidad and Tobago) was renamed Queen Janelle Commissiong Street.
Sources:
- Miss Universe 1977 – Wikipedia
- Janelle Commissiong photo caption. Napa Register 26 Jul. 1977: 14.
- Adderton, Donald. “‘I Happened To Be The Best,’ Says New Miss Universe.” Jet 1 Sept. 1977: 28-33.
- Janelle, the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Miss Universe 1977
- SSA
Images: Screenshot of the TV broadcast of the 26th Miss Universe pageant; clipping from the cover of Jet magazine (1 Sept. 1977).
I like Janelle. It’s feminine without being princessy, and I am not nearly as bored of it as I am with a lot of other -elle and -ella names (Isabelle/a, Danielle, Gabrielle/a). I have only known one Janelle, a white woman from Appalachia. I think she was born in the late ’60s.
I’ve met several Janelles, all born before the late 1970s. There must have been some other influences earlier.
“After winning the title, [Janelle] was most commonly known as ‘Penny’ because she was small as a penny.”
She’s still gorgeous, by the way! https://www.facebook.com/JanellePennyCommissiong