According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Tracee more than doubled in usage from 1972 to 1973:
- 1975: 95 baby girls named Tracee
- 1974: 138 baby girls named Tracee [rank: 918th]
- 1973: 313 baby girls named Tracee [rank: 536th]
- 1972: 124 baby girls named Tracee [rank: 978th]
- 1971: 99 baby girls named Tracee
What caused that spike?
A celebrity baby named Tracee Joy.
She was born in October of 1972 to Diana Ross, former lead singer of The Supremes, and music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein.
Tracee’s birth was mentioned in the newspapers in late 1972, but, more importantly, photos of her family (which included older sister Rhonda Suzanne) were featured in Ebony magazine in January of 1973.
Today, Tracee — known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross — is an actress best known for her role as Dr. Rainbow “Bow” Johnson on the sitcom Black-ish (2014-2022).
What are your thoughts on the name Tracee? (Do you like this spelling, or do you prefer Tracy?)
P.S. Diana Ross’ three other (biological) children are named Chudney Lane, Ross Arne, and Evan Olav.
Sources:
- Diana Ross – Wikipedia
- Wilson, G. Marshall. “There’s no place like home for Diana Ross.” Ebony Jul. 1973: 100-104, 106, 108, 110.
- SSA
Image: Clipping from the cover of Ebony magazine (Jul. 1973)
Good grief, Chudney? I went back and read your 2016 celebrity baby name roundup and her reasoning for that name is… well, pretty much what I would expect from Diana Ross, honestly. I’ll just say Tracee got off easy. At least it’s fairly evident that it’s just an alternate spelling of Tracy, rather than an alternate spelling of a condiment.
When I saw Sia’s new baby’s name I thought it was Somersault Wonder Bread, but turns out the last name is a little bit different than Bread (barely).
Oh I’m glad the surname wasn’t Bread.