Popular baby names in Sonoma County (California), 2019

Flag of California
Flag of California

According to the government of Sonoma, California, the most popular baby names in the county last year were (again) Camila and Mateo.

Here are Sonoma’s top 5 girl names and top 5 boy names of 2019:

Girl names

  1. Camila, 29 baby girls
  2. Isabella, 25
  3. Olivia/Sofia (tie), 23
  4. Amelia/Sophia (tie), 22
  5. Charlotte/Mia (tie), 21

Boy names

  1. Mateo, 32 baby boys
  2. Benjamin, 22
  3. Sebastian, 21
  4. Liam, 20
  5. William/Noah/Isaac/Wyatt/Henry (5-way tie), 19

And what about the names bestowed just once in Sonoma in 2019? Here’s a sampling of the unique baby names from the other end of the list:

Unique girl namesUnique boy names
Aura, Banjolene, Cordelia, Dalihana, Ender, Etisha, Finleigh, Grecia, Hazelle, Itabili, Junebelle, Kella, Lumena, Macabiah, Moon, Naralyn, Nizhoni, Ovette, Pemma, Ruriko, Sabine, Sonali, Tallulah, Twyla, Vianna, Waverly, Yamanik, ZalethAonyx, Birke, Caius, Dexon, Eerikki, Farrokh, Gustavo, Hekili, Hezekiah, Itzael, Javid, Juvenal, Kibou, Lylin, Montanez, Nylex, Osher, Philo, Rye, Ryuchi, Sune, Taivaleoa’ana, Talizen, Thorleif, Ventura, Wylder, Yago, Zaeryn

Source: Sonoma County Baby Names

Image: Adapted from Flag of California (public domain)

Where did the baby name Trevira come from in 1973?

Trevira advertisement, 1968
Trevira/Oleg Cassini ad, circa 1968

The name Trevira — not to be confused with the name Tareva — has appeared in the U.S. baby name data only once so far, in 1973:

  • 1975: unlisted
  • 1974: unlisted
  • 1973: 5 baby girls named Trevira [debut]
  • 1972: unlisted
  • 1971: unlisted

What inspired it?

Fabric!

Trevira polyester, like Qiana nylon, was one of the branded synthetic fabrics that became trendy during the 1970s.

Trevira was created in Germany in the late ’50s, and by the end of the ’60s could be seen in American retail advertisements that touted the arrival of “The Trevira Era.”

It seems that Trevira hit peak usage among consumers in the early-to-mid ’70s, when it was used to make 1970s fashion staples like flared-leg trousers.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Trevira?

Sources: 1970s Disco Fashion – Fashion-Era.com, SSA

Where did the baby name Dorsett come from in 1978?

Football player Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett

The rare name Dorsett first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1978:

  • 1980: unlisted
  • 1979: 7 baby boys named Dorsett
  • 1978: 7 baby boys named Dorsett [debut]
  • 1977: unlisted
  • 1976: unlisted

What put it there?

Football player Anthony “Tony” Dorsett (pronounced dor-SET).

After winning the Heisman trophy in college, Tony Dorsett was chosen second overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1977 NFL draft.

The running back had a particularly successful rookie season; he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for 1977.

He ended up playing professionally for twelve seasons: eleven with the Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987), plus one more with the Denver Broncos (1988) alongside Ricky Nattiel.

The surname Dorsett, based on the English place name Dorset, ultimately comes from the Old English words durn, meaning “fist” (i.e., fist-sized pebbles) and soete, meaning “dwellers.”

Do you like Dorsett as a baby name?

Sources:

  • Tony Dorsett – Wikipedia
  • Hanks, Patrick. (Ed.) Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
  • SSA

Image: Tony Dorsett trading card

Where did the baby name Nattiel come from in 1988?

Football player Ricky Nattiel
Ricky Nattiel

In the late 1980s, the unusual name Nattiel was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data:

  • 1990: unlisted
  • 1989: unlisted
  • 1988: 10 baby boys named Nattiel [debut]
  • 1987: unlisted
  • 1986: unlisted

(In fact, Nattiel is one of the top one-hit wonders overall.)

Where did the name come from?

It was the surname of Florida-born professional football player Ricky Nattiel (pronounced nah-TEEL).

A wide receiver, Nattiel was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft. He ended up playing for the Broncos for six seasons (1987 to 1992).

I’m not certain about the origin of his surname, but my best guess is that it was based on the Biblical name Nathaniel.

Do you like Nattiel as a baby name?

Source: Ricky Nattiel – Wikipedia