Actress Angelina Jolie was a rising star in the late ’90s and early 2000s, thanks to movies like Gia (1998), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).
But she wasn’t just becoming a familiar face in the movie theaters — she was also having a strong influence on baby names. In 2000, the name Jolie broke into the U.S. top 1,000 for the first time, and, a year later, the name Angelina entered the top 100 for the first time:
| Angelina usage (ranking) | Jolie usage (ranking) | |
| 2003 | 4,271 baby girls (71st) | 377 baby girls (691st) |
| 2002 | 3,979 baby girls (74th) | 412 baby girls (620th) |
| 2001 | 3,368 baby girls (93rd) | 385 baby girls (655th) |
| 2000 | 2,140 baby girls (157th) | 275 baby girls (820th) |
| 1999 | 1,327 baby girls (237th) | 152 baby girls (1,241st) |
| 1998 | 1,167 baby girls (268th) | 109 baby girls (1,536th) |
Best of all, though, are the debuts of Anjolina and Anjolie — names that cleverly blend “Angelina” with “Jolie” — in 2000. I know of other actresses (e.g., Cyd Charisse, Pier Angeli) who popularized both their first and last names, but Angie is the only one I know of to inspire mash-ups like this.
Which name do you like better for a baby girl, Angelina or Jolie? (Or do you prefer one of the portmanteaus?)
Source: Angelina Jolie – Rotten Tomatoes