The rare name Athalie first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1915. The very next year, it reached peak popularity:
- 1917: 5 baby girls named Athalie
- 1916: 23 baby girls named Athalie
- 1915: 26 baby girls named Athalie [peak]
- 1914: 7 baby girls named Athalie [debut]
- 1913: unlisted
- 1912: unlisted
We see a similar pattern of usage in the Social Security Death Index data:
- 1917: 9 people named Athalie
- 1916: 16 people named Athalie
- 1915: 30 people named Athalie
- 1914: 9 people named Athalie
- 1913: 3 people named Athalie
- 1912: 3 people named Athalie
What was drawing attention to the name Athalie around this time?
The story Athalie (subtitled: “A Romance of a Girl with a Strange Power”) by Robert W. Chambers. It was serialized in Cosmopolitan magazine from November of 1914 to August of 1915, and published as a standalone book in mid-1915.
The main character, Athalie Greensleeve, was a young, working-class woman who happened to be clairvoyant. Her love interest was a wealthy man named Clive (whose mother wanted him to marry a girl of their own social set — not Athalie).
I’m not sure how the author coined the name “Athalie” — maybe it’s based on Nathalie, the French form of Natalie? — but he does begin the story with the character’s birth, followed by her naming:
“What are you going to name her, papa?”
“Athalie, I believe,” he said absently.
“Athalie! What kind of name is that?” demanded Jack.
“I dunno. Your mamma wanted it in case the baby was a girl.”
What are your thoughts on the name Athalie?
Source: Chambers, Robert W. “Athalie.” Cosmopolitan Nov. 1914: 725-740.