According to the U.S. baby name data, Mandy more than sextupled in usage in 1975:
- 1977: 3,100 baby girls named Mandy [rank: 94th]
- 1976: 2,924 baby girls named Mandy [rank: 100th]
- 1975: 2,710 baby girls named Mandy [rank: 106th]
- 1974: 446 baby girls named Mandy [rank: 435th]
- 1973: 384 baby girls named Mandy [rank: 473rd]
Amanda — the name from which Mandy derives — also saw a discernible increase in usage in 1975.
What gave these names a boost?
The Barry Manilow song “Mandy,” which was released in October of 1974. It reached the top spot on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in January of the following year.
Here’s what it sounds like:
Interestingly, “Mandy” is a cover of a song called “Brandy” that was first recorded by Scott English and released in early 1972. The single became popular in both the UK and Australia, but was only a minor hit in the U.S.
When Barry Manilow recorded his version in mid-1974, he (and Bell Records president Clive Davis) decided to change the title from “Brandy” to “Mandy” so as to avoid confusion with the Looking Glass song “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).”
The baby name Mandy went on to see peak usage several years later — either in 1977 (highest ranking) or in 1978 (highest number of babies), depending on how you look at it.
What are your thoughts on the name Mandy?
P.S. The similar name Mindy was also most popular in the late 1970s…
Sources: Mandy by Barry Manilow – Songfacts, Barry Manilow – Billboard, Brandy (Scott English song) – Wikipedia, SSA