Here’s something I noticed recently — the baby name Bae has been on the SSA’s list since 2012:
- 2014: 10 baby girls named Bae
- 2013: 8 baby girls named Bae
- 2012: 5 baby girls named Bae [debut]
- 2011: unlisted
Bae seems to be rising on the heels of Bay…
- 2014: 74 baby girls named Bay
- 2013: 70 baby girls named Bay
- 2012: 44 baby girls named Bay
- 2011: 10 baby girls named Bay
- 2010: 11 baby girls named Bay
- 2009: unlisted
…but I do have to wonder about the influence of the slang term “bae” here.
After all, 2012 was the year the Bae Caught Me Slippin’ meme took off. And 2014 was the year “bae” went mainstream with a Pharrell song (“Come Get It Bae”) and several high-profile articles (in TIME, Esquire, and The Atlantic).
What do you think — is Bae simply a variant of Bay, or could it be a baby name inspired by internet slang (à la Ily)? Or is it a bit of both?
Source: “Bae” Watch: The Ascent of a New Pet Name by Neal Whitman