How popular is the baby name Brenda in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Brenda.

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Popularity of the baby name Brenda


Posts that mention the name Brenda

Baby names that debuted most impressively in the U.S. data, 1881 to today

lotus bud

Though most of the baby names in the SSA’s annual datasets are repeats, each dataset does contain a handful of brand-new names.

Below are the most popular debut names for every single year on record, after the first.

Why bother with an analysis like this? Because debut names often have cool stories behind them, and high-hitting debuts are especially likely to have intriguing explanations tied to historical people/events. So this is more than a list of names — it’s also a list of stories.

Here’s the format: “Girl name(s), number of baby girls; Boy name(s), number of baby boys.” Keep in mind that the raw numbers aren’t too trustworthy for about the first six decades, though. (More on that in a minute.)

1880s

  • 1881: Adell & Celeste, 14; Brown & Newell, 14
  • 1882: Verda, 14; Cleve, 13
  • 1883: Laurel, 12; Brady, Festus, Jewell, Odell & Rosco, 8
  • 1884: Crystal & Rubie, 11; Benjamen, Jens, Oakley & Whitney, 9
  • 1885: Clotilde, 13; Arley & Terence, 9
  • 1886: Manuelita, 10; Terrence, 10
  • 1887: Verlie, 13; Myles, 11
  • 1888: Ebba, 18; Carlisle, Hughie & Orvel, 9
  • 1889: Garnett, 12; Doyle, 9

1890s

  • 1890: Verena, 11; Eduardo & Maggie, 10
  • 1891: Gayle, Idabelle & Zenia, 9; Sheridan, 14
  • 1892: Astrid, Dallas & Jennett, 9; Corbett, 23
  • 1893: Elmyra, 12; Estel, Mayo, Shelley & Thorwald, 8
  • 1894: Beatriz, Carola & Marrie, 9; Arvel, Erby & Floy, 8
  • 1895: Trilby, 12; Roosevelt, 12
  • 1896: Lotus, 11; Hazen, 11
  • 1897: Dewey, 13; Bryon, Frankie, Mario & Rhoda, 7
  • 1898: Manilla, 35; Hobson, 38
  • 1899: Ardis & Irva, 19; Haven, 9

1900s

  • 1900: Luciel, 14; Rosevelt, 20
  • 1901: Venita, 11; Eino, 9
  • 1902: Mercie, 10; Clarnce, 9
  • 1903: Estela, 11; Lenon & Porfirio, 7
  • 1904: Magdaline, 9; Adrain, Arbie, Betty, Desmond, Domenic, Duard, Raul & Severo, 8
  • 1905: Oliver, 9; Eliot & Tyree, 9
  • 1906: Nedra, 11; Domenico & Ryan, 10
  • 1907: Theta, 20; Taft, 16
  • 1908: Pasqualina, 10; Robley, 12
  • 1909: Wilmoth, 9; Randal & Vidal, 9

1910s

1920s

  • 1920: Dardanella, 23; Steele, 11
  • 1921: Marilynne, 13; Norberto, 14
  • 1922: Evelean, 14; Daren, 35
  • 1923: Nalda, 15; Clinard & Dorland, 9
  • 1924: Charis, 14; Melquiades, 13
  • 1925: Irmalee, 37; Wayburn, 11
  • 1926: Narice, 13; Bibb, 14
  • 1927: Sunya, 14; Bidwell, 14
  • 1928: Joreen, 22; Alfread & Brevard, 9
  • 1929: Jeannene, 25; Donnald, Edsol, Rhys & Wolfgang, 8

1930s

(From the SSA: “Note that many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data.”)

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

  • 2000: Kelis, 108; Rithik, 22
  • 2001: Yaire, 184; Jahiem, 155
  • 2002: Kaydence, 70; Omarian, 31
  • 2003: Trenyce, 88; Pharrell, 67
  • 2004: Eshal, 38; Jkwon, 100
  • 2005: Yarisbel, 30; Jayceon, 48
  • 2006: Lizania, 35; Balian, 24
  • 2007: Leilene, 81; Yurem, 206
  • 2008: Aideliz, 91; Yosgart, 72
  • 2009: Greidys, 186; Jeremih, 87

2010s

2020s

I’ve already written about some of the names above, and I plan to write about all the others as well…eventually. In the meanwhile, if you want to beat me to it and leave a comment about why Maverick hit in 1957, or why Moesha hit in 1996, feel free!

Source: U.S. SSA

Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri

[Latest update: May 2025]

Where did the baby name Crystalgayle come from?

The Crystal Gayle album "We Must Believe In Magic" (1977).
Crystal Gayle album (1977)

The compound name Crystalgayle was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1981:

  • 1983: unlisted
  • 1982: unlisted
  • 1981: 5 baby girls named Crystalgayle [debut]
  • 1980: unlisted
  • 1979: unlisted

The source, of course, is country singer Crystal Gayle.

The timing of the debut has less to do with her career, though, than with the sudden trendiness of the name Krystle, thanks to TV character Krystle Carrington (from the prime-time soap opera Dynasty).

But the name Crystal — without the Gayle — does seem to have been given a boost by Crystal Gayle’s best-known hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” which came out in mid-1977. It was already on the rise in the ’70s, but that rise accelerated in ’77 and ’78:

  • 1979: 13,467 baby girls named Crystal (rank: 18th)
  • 1978: 12,592 baby girls named Crystal (rank: 18th)
  • 1977: 9,728 baby girls named Crystal (rank: 25th)
  • 1976: 6,947 baby girls named Crystal (rank: 36th)
  • 1975: 6,244 baby girls named Crystal (rank: 43rd)

Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in 1951. She was the youngest of eight; her siblings were named Melvin, Loretta, Herman, Willie, Donald, Peggy, and Betty.

Brenda was ready to start her singing career as soon as she was done with high school. At that point, her sister Loretta — nearly 19 years her senior — had already turned herself into famous country singer Loretta Lynn. So Brenda signed with Loretta’s recording label, Decca.

As the label already had Brenda Lee, a change of name was needed and, when they drove past a sign for Krystal hamburgers, Lynn said, ‘That’s your name. Crystals are bright and shiny, like you.’

(The founders of the fast food chain Krystal were keen on cleanliness, so they chose the name “Crystal” to evoke the idea of a crystal-clean restaurant, but decided to spell it with a “K” to make it distinctive.)

What are your thoughts on the name Crystal? What’s your preferred spelling of the name?

Sources:

  • Crystal Gayle – Wikipedia
  • Hogan, David G. Selling ’em by the Sack: White Castle and the Creation of American Food. NY: New York University Press, 1999.
  • Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 5th ed. London: Omnibus Press, 2011.
  • Shearer, John. “75 Years Of Krystal.” Chattanoogan.com 8 Oct. 2007.
  • SSA

Baby girl gets 139 names: Tracy Mariclaire Lisa…

John and Margaret Nelson of Chesterfield, England, welcomed a baby girl at the very end of 1985. They named their daughter Tracy, but that’s not all they named her. This is Tracy’s full name:

Tracy Mariclaire Lisa Tammy Samantha Christine Alexandra Candy Bonnie Ursala Zoe Nichola Patricia Lynda Kate Jean Sandra Karren Julie Jane Elizabeth Felicity Gabriella Jackie Corina Constance Arabella Clara Honor Geraldine Fiona Erika Fillippa Anabel Elsie Amanda Cheryl Alanna Louisa Angie Beth Crystal Dawn Debbie Eileen Grace Susan Rebecca Valerie Kay Lena Margaret Anna Amy Carol Bella Avril Ava Audry Andrea Daphne Donna Cynthia Cassie Christabel Vivien Wendy Moira Jennifer Abbie Adelaide Carrissa Carla Anne Astrid Barbara Charissa Catalina Bonny Dee Hazel Iris Anthea Clarinda Bernadette Cara Alison Carrie Angela Beryl Caroline Emma Dana Vanessa Zara Violet Lynn Maggie Pamela Rosemary Ruth Cathlene Alexandrina Annette Hilary Diana Angelina Carrinna Victoria Sara Mandy Annabella Beverly Bridget Cecilia Catherine Brenda Jessica Isbella Delilah Camila Candace Helen Connie Charmaine Dorothy Melinda Nancy Mariam Vicki Selina Miriam Norma Pauline Toni Penny Shari Zsa-zsa Queenie Nelson

That’s 139 given names and 1 surname.

Why did John and Margaret do this to their daughter? According to John, “We just wanted to give her something for when she grows up.”

A reason that makes complete sense, of course.

Speaking of things that make sense, let’s pick out some of the needless repetition:

  • Alexandra (#7) and Alexandrina (#103)
  • Amanda (#36) and Mandy (#111)
  • Angela (#89), Angie (#40) and Angelina (#107)
  • Anna (#33), Anne (#74) and Annette (#104)
  • Bella (#56), Annabella (#112), Arabella (#27) and Isbella (#119)
  • Bonnie (#9) and Bonny (#79)
  • Candace (#122) and Candy (#8)
  • Carrissa (#72) and Charissa (#77)
  • Clara (#28) and Clarinda (#84)
  • Constance (#26) and Connie (#124)
  • Corina (#25) and Carrinna (#108)
  • Elizabeth (#21) and Beth (#41)
  • Margaret (#52) and Maggie (#98)
  • Mariam (#129) and Miriam (#131)
  • Victoria (#109) and Vicki (#130)
  • Zara (#95) and Sara (#110)

If you could go back in time and rename this baby, which two names (out of the 139) would you choose as her first and middle names?

Source: “Tracy for short.” Reading Eagle 24 Jan 1986: 1.

Baby born to sauerkraut-eating champ, named Frank (for kraut brand)

Frank's Kraut label
Frank’s Kraut

In August of 2002, Brenda and Allen Lashley of Wisconsin welcomed a baby boy named Edward Allen Frank Lashley.

The baby’s first two given names honor family members — his maternal grandfather and his father, respectively — but the third does not.

So where did “Frank” come from?

Sauerkraut!

When she was seven months pregnant, Brenda “gobbled down more than a pound of sauerkraut…at the Kraut Festival in Franksville, Wis., to claim her title as the women’s World Champion kraut eater. She took home a trophy and $100.”

Following the win, she and her husband “figured why not add Frank to make it Edward Allen Frank” after the sauerkraut brand, Frank’s Kraut, which was originally manufactured in Franksville.

(The fact that Frank’s Kraut was made in Franksville is just an interesting coincidence. Franksville got its name in the 1870s — decades before the sauerkraut company came to town — and was likely named for either a surveyor or a railroad man called “Frank.”)

Sources: