How popular is the baby name Chris 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 Chris.

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Popularity of the baby name Chris


Posts that mention the name Chris

Where did the baby name Daughtry come from in 2007?

Daughtry's self-titled 2006 album.
Daughtry album

Chris Daughtry, American Idol alum and Daughtry vocalist, welcomed fraternal twins yesterday. He and his wife chose the names Adalynn (girl) and Noah (boy).

But that’s not really what I want to talk about. The birth of the twins just reminded me of an interesting baby name I spotted not long ago in the data. And what name would that be? Daughtry itself, of course.

Chris Daughtry competed on the fifth season of American Idol, which aired during the first half of 2006. His rock band’s self-titled debut album was released in late November that same year. The album became “the fastest-selling rock debut in the 16-year history of the Billboard album chart’s sales tracking system,” according to Hollywood.com.

In 2007, not only was Daughtry’s album Daughtry the “biggest-selling record in America,” but the name Daughtry appeared for the first time in the U.S. baby name list:

  • 2009: 6 baby boys named Daughtry
  • 2008: 11 baby boys named Daughtry
  • 2007: 6 baby boys named Daughtry [debut]
  • 2006: unlisted
  • 2005: unlisted

At least 23 33 baby Daughtrys have been born in the U.S. so far.

How many more do you think will be born in 2010? Turns out the name appeared on the list for one more year, but hasn’t been back since.

The English surname Daughtry is of Norman French origin and originally referred to someone from Hauterive, a town in in northwestern France. The town name is derived from the Old French phrase haute rive, meaning “high bank.”

Sources:

Baby name mash-ups: Abdrew, Jeffifer, Ryatt, Tiffanique

Here are some oddball baby names I found while scanning the SSA’s baby name lists. They look like creative combinations of other names. (My guesses as to what those “other names” might be are in parentheses.)

Boy names:

Girl names:

Which is your favorite? (Mine is Franchester!)

Have you come across any other baby name mash-ups recently?

P.S. Don’t forget Craphonso. :)

[Last update: 5/2019]

Baby name story: Macy

Back in 2003, Bev and Chris Jordan of Coventry, England, named their daughter Macy. Here’s why:

Her name was inspired by the singer Macy Gray whose song was chosen by Bev and Chris on the day of their wedding.

For those who are married: Who sang your wedding song? Would you consider using that person’s name as a baby name?

Source: “Celebrations…bringing you the happiest pictures every day.” Coventry Evening Telegraph 4 Nov. 2003.

Baby born to Volkswagen fan, named Victoria Willow (“VW”)

VW Beetle

Chris Redford of Eastbourne (on the south coast of England) is a Volkswagen enthusiast. He owns (and has only ever owned) VWs. He decorates his home with VW merchandise and memorabilia. He sports about 70 Volkswagen tattoos.

Chris and his wife Serena welcomed a baby girl in 2008. Her name? Scarlet Victoria Willow. That’s right — middle initials V.W.

(Given the extent of this man’s obsession, I’m surprised — but pleased! — that the VW reference isn’t more overt. It’s not even as noticeable as the double-color pairing of “Scarlet Redford.”)

About a month before she was born, Chris was quoted as saying:

I’ll be an easygoing dad. I won’t mind if she has boyfriends or gets into trouble at school — but she’d better not come home driving a Mini or a Citroen.

Sources: Volkswagen fan Chris has beetles on his back, Baby Named After Father’s Car

Image: Adapted from Beetle IV by Karl Thomas Moore under CC BY-SA 4.0.