How popular is the baby name Andy in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Andy.

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Popularity of the Baby Name Andy


Posts that Mention the Name Andy

Where did the baby name Charade come from?

charade, movie, 1960s

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word charade as “an empty or deceptive act or pretense.”

Given this rather unsavory meaning, it’s surprising that a handful of parents named their baby girls Charade in the 1960s:

  • 1968: unlisted
  • 1967: 5 baby girls named Charade
  • 1966: unlisted
  • 1965: unlisted
  • 1964: 6 baby girls named Charade [debut]
  • 1963: unlisted

So what was the influence here?

That debut in 1964 can be attributed to the movie Charade and/or the movie’s theme song, also called “Charade.”

The movie was a romantic comedy/thriller starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant that came out in December of 1963 (less than a month after the Kennedy assassination). Here’s how TCM sums it up: “A beautiful widow tries to find her husband’s lost fortune while eluding the killers who want it themselves.”

(Interesting fact: The movie fell out of copyright immediately upon release because the word “copyright” was mistakenly omitted from the title screen.)

The song was a sad-sounding Parisian waltz composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Henry Mancini’s version reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1963. Crooner Andy Williams also released a version that managed to reach the top 100 that year (but just barely — 100th place in January).

What are your thoughts on the baby name Charade?

Sources: Charade – Merriam-Webster, Charade (1963) – TCM.com, Charade (1963 song) – Wikipedia

What turned Nico (briefly) into a girl name?

In places like Italy and Spain, Nico (pronounced nee-ko) is a masculine name. It’s used most often for baby boys in the United States as well, but was trendier for girls from the late ’60s to the mid-’70s:

197611 baby girls named Nico18 baby boys named Nico
197512 baby girls named Nico10 baby boys named Nico
19748 baby girls named Nico9 baby boys named Nico
197318 baby girls named Nico14 baby boys named Nico
197215 baby girls named Nico14 baby boys named Nico
197122 baby girls named Nico15 baby boys named Nico
197019 baby girls named Nico12 baby boys named Nico
196918 baby girls named Nico11 baby boys named Nico
19687 baby girls named Nico10 baby boys named Nico
19677 baby girls named Nico [debut]7 baby boys named Nico

Why?

Because of mononymous singer Nico, who became famous during the late ’60s thanks to her performances in various Andy Warhol projects. She starred in the hit film Chelsea Girls (1966), for instance, and in 1967 she was featured on the albums The Velvet Underground & Nico and Chelsea Girl.

One factor that no doubt helped “Nico” catch on as a girl name (at least temporarily) was the trendiness of the name Nicole during the ’60s and ’70s. (I should mention that the late ’60s is also when the name Chelsea started taking off.)

Nico’s real name was Christa Päffgen. She began using her stage name (which was inspired by an ex-boyfriend named Nikos) while modeling as a teenager.

A few decades later, the male usage of “Nico” rose sharply thanks to the All My Children character Nico Kelly, who was on the soap opera from 1987 to 1989. In fact, Nico was the fastest-rising boy name of 1988. (The name of his girlfriend Cecily also saw much higher usage around that time.)

19909 baby girls named Nico266 baby boys named Nico [rank: 621st]
19898 baby girls named Nico314 baby boys named Nico [rank: 548th]
19885 baby girls named Nico96 baby boys named Nico [rank: 989th]
1987unlisted10 baby boys named Nico

What are your thoughts on the name Nico? Do you like it better as a girl name, or as a boy name?

Source: Nico – Wikipedia

P.S. A similar thing happened to the name Luka two decades later…

Where did the baby name Arbadella come from?

Amos ‘n’ Andy baby-naming contest ad, 1936

The similar names Arbadella and Arbedella both debuted in the SSA baby name data in 1936, and both saw peak usage the following year:

ArbadellaArbedella
19408 baby girlsunlisted
19397 baby girlsunlisted
193812 baby girls5 baby girls
193733 baby girls [peak]9 baby girls [peak]
19366 baby girls [debut]6 baby girls [debut]
1935unlistedunlisted

What was the influence?

The radio serial Amos & Andy — one of the very first situation comedies. The initial version of the show (1928-1943) aired for 15 minutes, five days per week, and was the most popular radio program in the nation in the late 1920’s and early 30’s. In fact, the show’s “popularity ensured the success of radio broadcasting as a form of mass entertainment.”

The show “was based on the model of minstrel shows, [and] thus based on racial stereotypes.” The main characters — African-American men named Amos Jones and Andy Brown — were played by white radio performers Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll.

In an episode that aired during October of 1936, Amos and his wife Ruby welcomed their first child, a baby girl. The baby wasn’t named right away — instead, the show’s sponsor, Pepsodent Tooth Paste, held a baby-naming contest.

The contest was advertised in newspapers nationwide. The ads noted that the judges would consider “originality, uniqueness, and suitability” when making their decision, and also offered some name-choosing prompts, such as:

  • “…you might think “Amanda” would be a suitable name because it contains so many of the letters of both “Amos” and “Andy.””
  • “…remember, too, the baby’s maternal grandmother is named Lillian.”

Thousands of prizes were offered, including a $5,000 grand prize. Here’s the full list (and what the prizes would be worth in today’s dollars):

  • 1st: $5,000 in baby bonds (equivalent to $92,183.93 in 2020)
  • 2nd: $1,000 in baby bonds ($18,436.79)
  • 3rd: $100 baby bond to each of 10 winners ($1,843.68)
  • 4th: $50 baby bond to each of 100 winners ($921.84)
  • 5th: $25 baby bond to each of 720 winners ($460.92)
  • 6th: $2 cash to each of 2000 winners ($36.87)

The contest closed in mid-November. The winning name, Arbadella — suggested by Mrs. Joseph L. Smith of Ohio — was announced in mid-December. (The second-place name, Ladicia Ann, was suggested by 12-year-old Indiana boy Urcel D. Miller.)

The late-in-the-year announcement of the winning name accounts for why the baby name Arbadella (and spelling variant Arbedella) debuted in the data in 1936, but saw even higher usage in 1937.

After welcoming Arbadella, Amos and Ruby went on to have two more children: Amos, Jr., and Amosandra. Neither of these fictional babies had a discernible impact on U.S. baby names, though.

What are your thoughts on the name Arbadella? Do you like it?

Sources/Tools:

P.S. Norita was also a contest-winning name of the 1930s…

P.P.S. In the early 1950s, The Amos ‘n Andy Show aired on television. This time around, the characters were played by African-American actors. Despite good ratings, the show was cancelled after two years due to pressure from the NAACP.

Numerology & Baby Names: Number 8

baby names that add up to 8, numerologically

Here are hundreds of baby names that have a numerological value of “8.”

I’ve sub-categorized them by overall totals, because I think that some of the intermediate numbers could have special significance to people as well.

Within each group, I’ve listed up to ten of the most popular “8” names per gender (according to the current U.S. rankings).

Beneath all the names are some ways you could interpret the numerological value of “8,” including descriptions from two different numerological systems.

8

The following baby names add up to 8.

  • “8” girl names: Bea
  • “8” boy names: Abe

8 via 17

The following baby names add up to 17, which reduces to eight (1+7=8).

  • “17” girl names: Gia, Bo, Afia, Abida, Aana, Adiba, Cala, Kada, Beia
  • “17” boy names: Bo, Mac, Cam, Md, Jeb, Adeeb, Ibaad, Abie, Aabid, Ege

8 via 26

The following baby names add up to 26, which reduces to eight (2+6=8).

  • “26” girl names: Leah, Maci, Jana, Pia, Aahana, Brea, Dua, Gema, Cami, Anja
  • “26” boy names: Eli, Bode, Bear, Obed, Eben, Adil, Asaad, Mica, Baer, Mega

8 via 35

The following baby names add up to 35, which reduces to eight (3+5=8).

  • “35” girl names: Mila, Clara, Laila, Heidi, Alicia, Dahlia, Cadence, Hadlee, Carla, Cleo
  • “35” boy names: Liam, Cole, Eric, Jax, Kaden, Edgar, Jase, Abram, Kian, Makai

8 via 44

The following baby names add up to 44, which reduces to eight (4+4=8).

  • “44” girl names: Ariana, Faith, Hope, Keira, Helen, Jenna, Opal, Anais, Kiera, Erika
  • “44” boy names: Kaiden, Jayce, Abraham, Judah, Brian, Dante, Andy, Allen, Braden, Ray

8 via 53

The following baby names add up to 53, which reduces to eight (5+3=8).

  • “53” girl names: Julia, Eliza, Samara, Laura, Chelsea, Kendra, Reign, Rosa, Livia, Kori
  • “53” boy names: Gavin, Bryce, Kyle, Archer, Colin, Atlas, Khalil, Keith, Saul, Kamari

8 via 62

The following baby names add up to 62, which reduces to eight (6+2=8).

  • “62” girl names: Natalie, Leilani, Kylie, Sienna, Georgia, Arielle, Ariyah, Jordan, Danielle, Serena
  • “62” boy names: Mason, Josiah, Jordan, Ronan, Adonis, Callum, Briggs, Randy, Talon, Hassan

8 via 71

The following baby names add up to 71, which reduces to eight (7+1=8).

  • “71” girl names: Avery, Zoey, Adalynn, Jasmine, Finley, Lauren, Rowan, Gabrielle, Shelby, Octavia
  • “71” boy names: Samuel, Rowan, Rhett, Avery, Finley, Orion, Kyler, Mathias, Zayne, Emanuel

8 via 80

The following baby names add up to 80, which reduces to eight (8+0=8).

  • “80” girl names: Savannah, Alexandra, Cassidy, Emberly, Colette, Monroe, Cassandra, Stevie, Ensley, Cynthia
  • “80” boy names: Tyler, Bennett, Brooks, Alejandro, Spencer, Moises, Emmitt, Bryant, Jeremias, Giancarlo

8 via 89

The following baby names add up to 89, which reduces to eight (8+9=17; 1+7=8).

  • “89” girl names: Raelynn, Emerson, Summer, Alexandria, Felicity, Winter, Virginia, Ivory, Avalynn, August
  • “89” boy names: Wyatt, Wesley, August, Emerson, Titus, Travis, Garrett, Enrique, Mauricio, Quincy

8 via 98

The following baby names add up to 98, which reduces to eight (9+8=17; 1+7=8).

  • “98” girl names: Scarlett, Valentina, Allyson, Crystal, Jocelynn, Londynn, Kenzley, Julietta, Kynzlee, Justine
  • “98” boy names: Trevor, Jefferson, Marquis, Lazarus, Klayton, Zephyr, Britton, Giuseppe, Brexton, Kurtis

8 via 107

The following baby names add up to 107, which reduces to eight (1+0+7=8).

  • “107” girl names: Treasure, Dominique, Phoenyx, Charolette, Jourdyn, Winsley, Journeigh, Chrisette, Shukrona, Lynnley
  • “107” boy names: Preston, Dominique, Giovanny, Yousuf, Shourya, Phoenyx, Prosper, Norberto, Rayshaun, Ruston

8 via 116

The following baby names add up to 116, which reduces to eight (1+1+6=8).

  • “116” girl names: Royalty, Annistyn, Eternity, Suzette, Christianna, Graylynn, Ruqayyah, Jozlynn, Rhylynn, Christyn
  • “116” boy names: Cornelius, Stryker, Treyson, Royalty, Christiano, Prescott, Dimitrios, Burhanuddin, Maxemiliano, Josemiguel

8 via 125

The following baby names add up to 125, which reduces to eight (1+2+5=8).

  • “125” girl names: Tristyn, Rozalynn, Anjolaoluwa, Remingtyn, Skyelynn, Oliviarose, Sophiarose, Quintessa, Skylynne, Charlestyn
  • “125” boy names: Kyngston, Tristyn, Octavious, Oluwademilade, Trystin, Dontavius, Vishruth, Johnrobert, Johnpatrick, Prinston

8 via 134

The following baby names add up to 134, which reduces to eight (1+3+4=8).

  • “134” girl names: Willoughby
  • “134” boy names: Constantine, Massimiliano, Christensen, Juanantonio, Willoughby, Muhammadibrahim, Muzzammil

8 via 143

The following baby names add up to 143, which reduces to eight (1+4+3=8).

  • “143” girl names: Montserrat, Skylarrose, Monserratt, Oluwafifehanmi
  • “143” boy names: Kaitochukwu

8 via 161

The girl name Prosperity adds up to 161, which reduces to eight (1+6+1=8).

8 via 170

The boy name Josephanthony adds up to 170, which reduces to eight (1+7+0=8).

8 via 197

The girl name Moyosoreoluwa adds up to 197, which reduces to eight (1+9+7=17; 1+7=8).

What Does “8” Mean?

First, we’ll look at the significance assigned to “8” by two different numerological sources. Second, and more importantly, ask yourself if “8” or any of the intermediate numbers above have any special significance to you.

Numerological Attributes

“8” (the octad) according to the Pythagoreans:

  • “They used to call the ogdoad [group of eight] ’embracer of all harmonies’ because of this marvellous attunement, or because it is the first to have been attuned and multiplied so as to be equal-times-equal-times-equal, which is a most lawful generation. So when they call it ‘Cadmean,’ they should be understood to be referring to the fact that, as all historians tell us, Harmonia was the wife of Cadmus.”
  • “The number 8 is the source of the musical ratios”
  • “All the ways in which it is put together are excellent and equilibrated tunings.”
  • “The ogdoad is called ‘safety’ and ‘foundation,’ since it is a leader, because two is a leader: the seed of the ogdoad is the first even number.”
  • “They used to call the ogdoad ‘mother, ‘ perhaps [because] even number is female”
  • “The eighth sphere encompasses the whole ‘ hence the saying ‘All is eight.'”

“8” according to Edgar Cayce:

  • “Eight – a money number” (reading 261-14).
  • “Eight indicates the commercial change” (reading 261-15).
  • “This brings eight as a vibration for the entity that means an awakening within the inner self to the new possibilities, the new opportunities within self that may make for not only carrying with it the abilities but the obligations of same as well. For to whom much is given in any manifested form, of him much is required” (reading 707-1).
Personal/Cultural Significance

Does “8” — or do any of the other numbers above (e.g., 35, 44, 71, 143) — have any special significance to you?

Think about your own preferences and personal experiences: lucky numbers, birth dates, music, sports, and so on. Maybe you like how “35” (i.e., 35 mm format) reminds you of photography and film, for example.

Also think about associations you may have picked up from your culture, your religion, or society in general.

If you have any interesting insights about the number 8, or any of the other numbers above, please leave a comment!

Source: Theologumena Arithmeticae, attributed to Iamblichus (c.250-c.330).

Rare Girl Names from Early Cinema: Letter J

jetta, j-name, early cinema, baby name

Looking for an off-the-radar J-name for your baby girl? Here’s the latest installment of rare female names collected from very old films (released from the 1910s to the 1940s).

For the names that saw enough usage to register in the U.S. data, I’ve included links to the popularity graphs.

Jacala
Jacala Auehli was a character played by actress Priscilla Dean in the film The Brazen Beauty (1918).

Jacinta
Jacinta was a character played by actress Nanci Price in the film In Gay Madrid (1930).

Jacintha
Jacintha was a character played by actress Lule Warrenton in the film White Lies (1920).

Jacynth
Jacynth was a character played by actress Malvina Longfellow in the film Holy Orders (1917).

Jahala
Jahala Chandler was a character played by actress Pauline Starke in the film Dance Magic (1927).

  • Usage of the baby name Jahala (which debuted in the data the year Dance Magic came out, but never returned, making it a one-hit wonder).

Jalna
Countess Jalna was a character played by actress Edith Roberts in the film The Man from Headquarters (1928).

Jamilla
Jamilla was a character played by actress Marlene Dietrich in the film Kismet (1944).

Jania
Jania was a character played by actress Lupe Velez in the film Stand and Deliver (1928).

  • Usage of the baby name Jania.

Janina
Janina was a character played by actress Myrtle Stedman in the film Chickie (1925).

  • Usage of the baby name Janina.

Janira
Janira was a character played by actress Tsuru Aoki in the short film The Beckoning Flame (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Janira.

Jantje
Jantje was a character played by actress Eva Moore in the film Power (1934).

Jassy
Jassy was a character played by actress Margaret Lockwood in the film Jassy (1947).

Jaynie
Jaynie Stevens was a character played by actress Lynn Bari in the film Orchestra Wives (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Jaynie (which debuted in the data the year Orchestra Wives came out).

Jazzbo
Jazzbo Gans was a character played by actress Edna Murphy in the film Dancing Sweeties (1930).

Jeanie
Jeanie was a character name in multiple films, including What Shall I Do? (1924) and Parole Girl (1933).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeanie.

Jeanne
Jeanne d’Alcy was an actress who appeared in films from the 1890s to the 1900s. She was born in 1865 in France. Her birth name was Charlotte Lucie Marie Adèle Stephanie Adrienne Faës. Jeanne Eagels was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in 1890 in Missouri. Her birth name was Amelia Jean Eagles. Jeanne Aubert was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was born in 1900 in France. Jeanne was also a character name in multiple films, including The Phantom’s Secret (1917) and The Flower of the North (1922).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeanne.

Jeannette
Jeannette was a character name in multiple films, including The Greatest Thing in Life (1918) and Devil’s Island (1926).

Jeannine
Jeannine was a character name in multiple films, including Lilac Time (1928) and Assignment in Brittany (1943).

Jeantine
Jeantine was a character played by actress Merceita Esmond in the film The Beautiful Adventure (1917).

Jellia
Jellia Jamb was a character played by actress Glenna Vaughn in the film The Land of Oz (1932).

Jeneka
Princess Jeneka was a character played by actress Terza Bey in the film The Slim Princess (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeneka.

Jennitt
Jennitt Hicks was a character played by actress Patricia Dane in the film Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941).

Jemmy
Jemmy Milligan was a character played by actress Shirley Mason in the film The Winning Girl (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Jemmy.

Jerri
Jerri Vail was a character played by actress Lynne Roberts in the film Lightnin’ in the Forest (1948).

  • Usage of the baby name Jerri.

Jerry
Jerry was a character name in multiple films, including The Office Scandal (1929) and Merrily We Live (1938).

  • Usage of the baby name Jerry.

Jesda
Jesda was a character played by actress Bessie Eyton in the short film In the Tents of the Asra (1912).

Jessamine
Jessamine Wilton was a character played by actress Helen Dunbar in the short film The Fable of the Two Sensational Failures (1915).

Jesseva
Jesseva was a character played by actress Bobbie Gould in the film The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).

Jetta
Jetta (pronounced ZHET-eh) Goudal was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1930s. She was born in 1891 in the Netherlands. Her birth name Juliette Henriette Goudeket.

  • Usage of the baby name Jetta.

Jimmie
Jimmie Turner was a character played by actress Ruth Stonehouse in the short film Flames of Passion (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Jimmie.

Jinjur
Jinjur was a character played by actress Marie Wayne in the film The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).

Jinx
Jinx Falkenburg was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Spain in 1919. Her birth name was Eugenia Lincoln Falkenburg. Jinx was also a character name in the film Juke Box Jenny (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Jinx.

Jinxy
Jinxy was a character played by actress Sally Eilers in the film Don’t Get Personal (1936).

Joby
Joby Madison was a character played by actress Pauline Moore in the film The Carson City Kid (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Joby.

Jobyna
Jobyna Ralston was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Tennessee in 1899.

  • Usage of the baby name Jobyna.

Jody
Josephine “Jody” Norris was a character played by actress Olivia de Havilland in the film To Each His Own (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Jody.

Joie
Joie Malet was a character played by actress Louise Lorraine in the film The Altar Stairs (1922).

  • Usage of the baby name Joie.

Jojo
Jojo Dumont was a character played by actress Evelyn Ankers in the film Parole, Inc. (1948).

  • Usage of the baby name Jojo.

Jolanda
Jolanda Whiple was a character played by actress Dorothy Gish in the film The Country Flapper (1922).

Joline
Joline Hofer was a character played by actress Viola Dana in the film Revelation (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Joline.

Jonesy
Jonesy was a (female) character name in multiple films, including Hollywood Hotel (1937) and Babes on Broadway (1941).

José
José Collins was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in England in 1887. Her birth name was Josephine Charlotte Collins.

  • Usage of the baby name Jose.

Josephita
Josephita Guerrero was a character played by actress Renée Adorée in the film Tide of Empire (1929).

Josette
Josette Andriot was an actress who appeared in films from the 1900s to the 1910s. She was born in France in 1886. Her birth name was Camille Élisa Andriot. Josette was also a character played by actress Tala Birell in the film Josette (1938).

Josiana
Duchess Josiana was a character played by actress Olga Baclanova in the film The Man Who Laughs (1928).

Josina
Josina was a character played by actress Alice Hollister in the short film The Alien (1913).

  • Usage of the baby name Josina.

Josseline
Josseline Gaël was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was born in France in 1917. Her birth name was Jeannine Augustine Jeanne Blanleuil.

Joyzelle
Joyzelle Joyner was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1930s. She was born in Alabama in 1905.

Jubie
Jubie Davis was a character played by actress Virginia Weidler in the film Gold Rush Maisie (1940).

Julanne
Julanne Johnston was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Indiana in 1900.

Juline
Juline was a character played by actress Lillian Yarbo in the film Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941).

  • Usage of the baby name Juline.

Juneau
Juneau MacLean was a character played by actress Aileen Pringle in the film The Wilderness Woman (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Juneau.

Junella
Junella was a character played by actress Willa Pearl Curtis in the film Mom and Dad (1945).

Junetta
Junetta was a character played by actress Binnie Barnes in the film Love Lies (1931).

Junie
Junie Green was a character played by actress Phyllis Gordon in the short film Saved by Fire (1912).

  • Usage of the baby name Junie.

*

…Which of the above names do you like best?

Source: IMDb