How popular is the baby name Colleen 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 Colleen.

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Popularity of the baby name Colleen


Posts that mention the name Colleen

Wisconsin family with 21 children

The Schoelzel family of Wisconsin (in 1949)
The Schoelzel family (in 1949)

During the second quarter of the 20th century, Rudolph August Schoelzel and Olivia Henrietta Schoelzel (née Gutenberger) of Colby, Wisconsin, welcomed 21 children — 10 girls and 11 boys.

Here are the names of all 21 siblings:

  1. Rudolph August, Jr. (born in 1925)
  2. DuWayne D. (b. 1926)
  3. Darlene D. (b. 1927)
  4. Doris Janet (b. 1928)
  5. Jerold Elroy (b. 1929)
  6. Lyle James (b. 1930)
  7. Beatrice Joyce (b. 1931)
  8. Darnell H. (b. 1932)
  9. Ione Mardell (b. 1933)
  10. Emerita Ella (b. 1934)
  11. Audris Ann (b. 1936)
  12. Ronald R. (b. 1937)
  13. Glen R. (b. 1938)
  14. James E. (b. 1939)
  15. Patricia Elayne (b. 1940)
  16. Arlyn August (b. 1941)
  17. Sandra, possibly Cassandra (b. circa 1942)
  18. Dennis Dale (b. 1945)
  19. Colleen Margarette Edna (b. 1946), nicknamed “Connie”
  20. Albert A. (b. 1947)
  21. Korliss Colette (b. 1948)

(The 21-child Schoelzel family was almost as big as the 22-child Schoville family, also of Wisconsin.)

More than half of the Schoelzel children are listed on the 1950 U.S. Census:

The Schoelzel family on the 1950 U.S. Census
The Schoelzel family (1950 U.S. Census)

Which of the above names do you like most?

P.S. Thank you to Destiny for letting me know about the Schoelzel family! (Destiny also told me about both the Jones family and the Miller family.)

Sources:

Image: Clipping from the Marshfield News-Herald (8 Nov. 1949)

Popular baby names in Northern Ireland (UK), 2023

Flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of the United Kingdom

Northern Ireland — which was partitioned from the rest of Ireland more than a century ago — is a constituent country of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland, and Wales).

What were the most popular baby names in Northern Ireland last year? Isla and Noah.

Here are the Northern Ireland’s top 50 girl names and top 50+ boy names of 2023:

Girl names

  1. Isla, 147 baby girls – pronounced IE-la
  2. Fiadh, 138 – pronounced FEE-a
  3. Grace, 137
  4. Emily, 136
  5. Olivia, 126
  6. Lily, 108
  7. Ella, 97
  8. Aoife, 94 – pronounced EE-fa
  9. Amelia, 92
  10. Freya, 90
  11. Charlotte, 87
  12. Annie, 84 (tie)
  13. Sophie, 84 (tie)
  14. Anna, 83
  15. Eabha, 79 – pronounced EY-va
  16. Ellie, 77
  17. Sophia, 76
  18. Evie, 74
  19. Ava, 73
  20. Maisie, 70
  21. Clodagh, 66 – pronounced KLOH-da
  22. Mia, 63 (tie)
  23. Sadie, 63 (tie)
  24. Rosie, 62 (tie)
  25. Ruby, 62 (tie)
  26. Ivy, 60
  27. Molly, 59
  28. Cara, 57 (4-way tie)
  29. Elsie, 57 (4-way tie)
  30. Lottie, 57 (4-way tie)
  31. Meabh, 57 (4-way tie) – pronounced mayv
  32. Zara, 56
  33. Aria, 54
  34. Erin, 53
  35. Ada, 52
  36. Hannah, 51
  37. Saoirse, 50 – pronounced SEER-sha or SAYR-sha
  38. Bonnie, 48
  39. Cora, 47 (4-way tie)
  40. Isabella, 47 (4-way tie)
  41. Lucy, 47 (4-way tie)
  42. Phoebe, 47 (4-way tie)
  43. Katie, 46 (tie)
  44. Niamh, 46 (tie) – pronounced neev or NEE-iv
  45. Rhea, 45 (tie)
  46. Willow, 45 (tie)
  47. Rose, 44
  48. Sofia, 42
  49. Daisy, 41 (tie)
  50. Sienna, 41 (tie)

Boy names

  1. Noah, 152 baby boys
  2. Jack, 146
  3. James, 131
  4. Cillian, 128 – pronounced KIL-ee-an
  5. Charlie, 123
  6. Leo, 119
  7. Oisin, 116 – pronounced UH-sheen or OH-sheen
  8. Oliver, 114
  9. Luca, 108 (tie)
  10. Theo, 108 (tie)
  11. Tommy, 105
  12. Thomas, 103
  13. Jude, 93
  14. Arthur, 91
  15. Alfie, 85
  16. Daniel, 84
  17. Daithi, 82 – pronounced DAH-hee
  18. Harry, 77
  19. Ethan, 74
  20. Caleb, 73
  21. Finn, 71
  22. Henry, 70
  23. Ezra, 67 (tie)
  24. Jacob, 67 (tie)
  25. George, 66 (tie)
  26. Oscar, 66 (tie)
  27. Archie, 64 (3-way tie)
  28. Isaac, 64 (3-way tie)
  29. Ollie, 64 (3-way tie)
  30. Ronan, 63
  31. Lorcan, 62
  32. Reuben, 61 (tie)
  33. Shea, 61 (tie)
  34. Fionn, 60 (tie)
  35. Rory, 60 (tie)
  36. Darragh, 59
  37. Rian, 57
  38. Conor, 55 (tie)
  39. Freddie, 55 (tie)
  40. Arlo, 53 (tie)
  41. Patrick, 53 (tie)
  42. Luke, 52 (tie)
  43. Tom, 52 (tie)
  44. Jonah, 51 (tie)
  45. Odhran, 51 (tie) – pronounced OH-rawn
  46. Joshua, 50
  47. Max, 49 (tie)
  48. Theodore, 49 (tie)
  49. Michael, 47
  50. Mason, 46 (tie)
  51. Teddy, 46 (tie)

The names that qualified as the “top climbers” of 2023 were…

  • Rebecca, Rhea, Aurora, and Raya (for girls), and
  • Leon, Donnacha, Albie, and Seth (for boys).

And here’s a selection of uncommon names that were given to just three babies each:

Rare girl namesRare boy names
Aizal, Blathnaid, Colleen, Dianaimh, Everly, Georgina, Helen, Ivie, Juniper, Keeley, Laney, Meabha, Neala, Orlagh, Paisley, Searlaith, Tillie, Vera, YasmineAngus, Barney, Connlan, Darren, Ewan, Finbarr, Gearoid, Hamish, Jameson, Kieran, Lughan, Milan, Ned, Orhan, Paraic, Ruaidhri, Scott, Tate, Zayn

What about middle names? The top picks for the middle spot were…

  • Rose, Grace, Mary, Elizabeth, and Marie (for girls), and
  • James, John, Patrick, William, and Thomas (for boys).

Finally, here are Northern Ireland’s 2022 rankings, if you’d like to compare last year to the year before.

Source: Baby Names 2023 | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Image: Adapted from Flag of the United Kingdom (public domain)

Popular and unique baby names in each U.S. state, 2022

USA topographic map

Which baby names were the most popular in each U.S. state in 2022?

And which names appeared in the data for just one state last year?

Here are all the answers! (Any unique name that also popped up in last year’s post is in boldface.)

Alabama (AL)

  • Alabama’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Alabama’s top boy name: William
  • Alabama’s 5 unique girl names: Justyce, Adleigh, Crimson, Kamori, Khylee
    • The University of Alabama’s football team is called the Crimson Tide.
  • Alabama’s 5 unique boy names: Bankston, Chapman, Chipper, Treyvon, Wheeler

Alaska (AK)

  • Alaska’s top girl name: Aurora/Charlotte (tie)
  • Alaska’s top boy name: Oliver
  • No unique girl names.
  • Alaska’s 1 unique boy name: Paxson

Arizona (AZ)

  • Arizona’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Arizona’s top boy name: Liam
  • Arizona’s 5 unique girl names: Zo, Payson, Ariza, Naelani, Neema
  • Arizona’s 1 unique boy name: Payson
    • Payson (used for both genders above) could be a reference to the Arizona town of Payson.

Arkansas (AR)

  • Arkansas’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Arkansas’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Arkansas’s 1 unique girl name: Camari
  • No unique boy names.

California

  • California’s top girl name: Olivia
  • California’s top boy name: Liam
  • California’s top 10 unique girl names: Mehar, Quetzalli, Emiko, Nare, Yamila, Mei, Mannat, Rayleen, Ajooni, Caia (total of 535)
  • California’s top 10 unique boy names: Arjan, Narek, Lino, Maceo, Zenith, Tigran, Pranav, Sahib, Ashot, Sayed (total of 391)

Colorado

  • Colorado’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Colorado’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Colorado’s 1 unique girl name: Ezmae
  • Colorado’s 1 unique boy name: Cale
    • Professional hockey player Cale Makar plays for the Colorado Avalanche (and won the Stanley Cup with them in mid-2022).

Connecticut

  • Connecticut’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Connecticut’s top boy name: Liam
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Delaware

  • Delaware’s top girl name: Sophia
  • Delaware’s top boy name: Liam
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

District of Columbia

  • D.C.’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • D.C.’s top boy name: Henry
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Florida

  • Florida’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Florida’s top boy name: Liam
  • Florida’s top 10 unique girl names: Abigaelle, Ainoa, Keisha, Anaelle, Alysha, Jamia, Jehlani, Mariangel, Taraji, Aaleyah (total of 123)
  • Florida’s top 10 unique boy names: Piero, Kenley, Kensley, Kion, Romel, Royale, Promise, Adams, Imani, Jahkai (total of 110)

Georgia

  • Georgia’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Georgia’s top boy name: Noah
  • Georgia’s top 10 unique girl names: Yari, Choyce, Janova, Aloni, Kelli, Sarabi, Serayah, Zakiyah, Cai, Candelaria (total of 33)
  • Georgia’s top 10 unique boy names: Deuce, Walton, Jamario, Lawton, Jeb, Kanon, Masyn, Peace, Pearce, Robel (total of 29)

Hawaii

  • Hawaii’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Hawaii’s top boy name: Noah
  • Hawaii’s 5 unique girl names: Lilinoe, Mahealani, Kelia, Mehana, Mele
  • Hawaii’s top 10 unique boy names: Ikaika, Ryzen, Kainalu, Kaeo, Kaikoa, Kawika, Makani, Hayzen, Kalai, Kiai (total of 11)

Idaho

  • Idaho’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Idaho’s top boy name: Oliver
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Illinois

  • Illinois’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Illinois’s top boy name: Noah
  • Illinois’s top 10 unique girl names: Kinzie, Zuzanna, Maleyah, Miliani, Novella, Ozzie, Colleen, Iga, Kamira, Kamoura (total of 15)
  • Illinois’s top 10 unique boy names: Vuk, Aleksandar, Andrej, Michal, Nikodem, Teodor, Lazar, Namir, Nyaire, Abdurrahman (total of 22)

Indiana

  • Indiana’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Indiana’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Indiana’s 10 unique girl names: Israel, Brenlee, Talaya, Arionna, Dalayah, Islay, Jacklynn, Laiana, Saylah, Wrigley
  • Indiana’s 6 unique boy names: Maciah, Brayton, Jentry, Jordon, Menno, Olyver

Iowa

  • Iowa’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Iowa’s top boy name: Oliver
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Kansas

  • Kansas’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Kansas’s top boy name: Liam
  • Kansas’s 1 unique girl name: Breckyn
  • Kansas’s 1 unique boy name: Calan

Kentucky

  • Kentucky’s top girl name: Harper
  • Kentucky’s top boy name: Liam
  • Kentucky’s 2 unique girl names: Rosetta, Tinslee
  • Kentucky’s 2 unique boy names: Jansen, Taytum

Louisiana

  • Louisiana’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Louisiana’s top boy name: Liam
  • Louisiana’s 9 unique girl names: Kamyri, Jaylei, Juri, Kemani, Ellarie, Jaisley, Kaleigha, Kenslei, Weslyn
  • Louisiana’s top 10 unique boy names: Khyzer, Kennon, Aysen, Denym, Brylon, Caisen, Dedrick, Mahzi, Tory, Treylin (total of 11)

Maine (ME)

  • Maine’s top girl name: Evelyn
  • Maine’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Maine’s 1 unique girl name: Acadia
    • Acadia National Park is located in Maine.
  • No unique boy names.

Maryland (MD)

  • Maryland’s top girl name: Ava
  • Maryland’s top boy name: Liam
  • Maryland’s 6 unique girl names: Nature, Arsema, Loyal, Ayomide, Eniola, Hasset
  • Maryland’s 4 unique boy names: Record, Tavon, Ezana, Kymere

Massachusetts (MA)

  • Massachusetts’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Massachusetts’s top boy name: Noah
  • Massachusetts’s 8 unique girl names: Emilly, Marialuiza, Mariaclara, Aylla, Emanuelly, Hellena, Eloa, Isabelly
  • Massachusetts’s 2 unique boy names: Eoghan, Murilo

Michigan (MI)

  • Michigan’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Michigan’s top boy name: Noah
  • Michigan’s top 10 unique girl names: Reema, Zahraa, Germany, Rital, Areej, Harlym, Kamylah, Layal, Zyaire, Elloise (total of 17)
  • Michigan’s top 10 unique boy names: Floyd, Renley, Mohsen, Stuart, Wissam, Amaree, Delon, Husayn, Ishaaq, Joud (total of 12)

Minnesota (MN)

  • Minnesota’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Minnesota’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Minnesota’s top 10 unique girl names: Maryama, Siham, Ahlam, Manal, Mumtaz, Rayan, Ikhlas, Nawal, Afnan, Maiza (total of 34)
  • Minnesota’s top 10 unique boy names: Yahye, Muhsin, Mohamedamin, Munasar, Nels, Sudais, Amaar, Brekken, Hanad, Majid (total of 29)

Mississippi (MS)

  • Mississippi’s top girl name: Ava
  • Mississippi’s top boy name: James
  • Mississippi’s 5 unique girl names: Rivers, Kaisleigh, Rhyleigh, Kulture, Mills
  • Mississippi’s 1 unique boy name: Khyler

Missouri (MO)

  • Missouri’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Missouri’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Missouri’s 5 unique girl names: Quinley, Rilee, Taylynn, Sekani, Teddy
  • Missouri’s 6 unique boy names: Petie, Tennessee, Devontae, Kolsyn, Maclin, Weslee

Montana (MT)

  • Montana’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Montana’s top boy name: William
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Nebraska

  • Nebraska’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Nebraska’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Nebraska’s 1 unique girl name: Eh
  • Nebraska’s 1 unique boy name: Creighton
    • Creighton University is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

Nevada

  • Nevada’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Nevada’s top boy name: Liam
  • Nevada’s 1 unique girl name: Hemen
  • No unique boy names.

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • New Hampshire’s top boy name: Theodore
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

New Jersey

  • New Jersey’s top girl name: Emma
  • New Jersey’s top boy name: Liam
  • New Jersey’s top 10 unique girl names: Tzivia, Shulamis, Ita, Debra, Fay, Sheva, Dena, Esti, Giorgia, Mattea (total of 11)
  • New Jersey’s top 10 unique boy names: Gershon, Boruch, Michoel, Yechezkel, Pinchos, Avigdor, Ahsan, Betzalel, Ibn, Nesanel (total of 15)

New Mexico

  • New Mexico’s top girl name: Sophia
  • New Mexico’s top boy name: Liam
  • No unique girl names.
  • New Mexico’s 1 unique boy name: Cruzito

New York

  • New York’s top girl name: Olivia
  • New York’s top boy name: Liam
  • New York’s top 10 unique girl names: Faigy, Gitty, Yitty, Raizy, Goldy, Shaindy, Blima, Henny, Pessy, Hinda (total of 197)
  • New York’s top 10 unique boy names: Shaya, Mendy, Usher, Yitzchak, Avrum, Yossi, Hershel, Elimelech, Shloma, Yida (total of 179)

North Carolina

  • North Carolina’s top girl name: Olivia
  • North Carolina’s top boy name: Liam
  • North Carolina’s top 10 unique girl names: Huntleigh, Makinley, Meylin, Talayah, Adair, Alaura, Avacyn, Bryelle, Emersen, Goddess (total of 18)
  • North Carolina’s top 10 unique boy names: Darrius, Shelton, Sheppard, Ward, Waylan, Zeb, Chasen, Clarke, Kaysin, Kori (total of 22)

North Dakota

  • North Dakota’s top girl name: Olivia
  • North Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
  • North Dakota’s 1 unique girl name: Girl (a placeholder name)
  • No unique boy names.

Ohio

  • Ohio’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Ohio’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Ohio’s top 10 unique girl names: Kierra, Lamiyah, Paizlee, Dempsey, Myonna, Annamae, Iyonna, Jaila, Jamyah, Khori (total of 29)
  • Ohio’s top 10 unique boy names: Bennet, Cylas, Merlin, Abdallah, Wayde, Atlee, Bashir, Blessing, Bryden, Cylus (total of 19)

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Oklahoma’s top boy name: Liam
  • Oklahoma’s 4 unique girl names: Lakota, Huxley, Lun, Raelee
  • Oklahoma’s 2 unique boy names: Thang, Ripken

Oregon

  • Oregon’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Oregon’s top boy name: Oliver
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Pennsylvania’s top boy name: Liam
  • Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique girl names: Barbie, Verna, Lavina, Alahna, Allure, Gionna, Laela, Lovina, Giavonna, Jennica (total of 25)
  • Pennsylvania’s top 10 unique boy names: Benuel, Enos, Arlan, Penn, Munir, Welles, Kendry, Koleson, Tyreek, Ahsaan (total of 25)

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Rhode Island’s top boy name: Liam
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

South Carolina

  • South Carolina’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • South Carolina’s top boy name: Noah
  • No unique girl names.
  • South Carolina’s 4 unique boy names: Rashaun, Tillman, Keylan, Tyquan

South Dakota

  • South Dakota’s top girl name: Evelyn
  • South Dakota’s top boy name: Oliver
  • South Dakota’s 1 unique girl name: Kimimila (from the Lakota word kimímila, meaning “butterfly”)
  • No unique boy names.

Tennessee

  • Tennessee’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Tennessee’s top boy name: Liam
  • Tennessee’s top 10 unique girl names: Neely, Annsley, Elleanor, Kimberlynn, Whitlee, Alasia, Brenley, Brylie, Copper, Enslee (total of 15)
  • Tennessee’s top 10 unique boys names: Neyland, Holston, Opie, Hatcher, Kevon, Randal, Ryman, Aleczander, Dekari, Kaven (total of 14)
    • The University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium was named after former athletic director/coach Robert Neyland.
    • Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was named after Nashville businessman Thomas Ryman.

Texas

  • Texas’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Texas’s top boy name: Liam
  • Texas’s top 10 unique girl names: Landrie, Devany, Darianna, Atalie, Conley, Eliane, Leddy, Aitanna, Darely, Heiress (total of 501)
  • Texas’s top 10 unique boy names: Riggin, Witten, Job, Weldon, Cutter, Judge, Stratton, Blayze, Cross, Ferran (total of 310)

Utah

  • Utah’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Utah’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Utah’s 9 unique girl names: Alta, Liesl, Swayzee, Indica, Manaia, Nayvie, Quincey, Rorie, Savvy
  • Utah’s 10 unique boy names: Stockton, Ammon, Dallin, Cache, Kimball, Tyce, Hudsen, Niels, Quin, Talmage
    • Former professional basketball player John Stockton spent his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz.
    • Dallin H. Oaks is one of the leaders of the LDS Church.
    • James E. Talmage was one of the leaders of the LDS Church in the early 1900s.

Vermont

  • Vermont’s top girl name: Amelia
  • Vermont’s top boy name: Henry
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Virginia

  • Virginia’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Virginia’s top boy name: Liam
  • Virginia’s 2 unique girl names: Cameran, Menna
  • Virginia’s 5 unique boy names: Amnen, Arkan, Athens, Kani, Khylen

(Here are the top baby names in Virginia, and within each of Virginia’s largest ethnic groups, according to the state itself.)

Washington

  • Washington’s top girl name: Olivia
  • Washington’s top boy name: Oliver
  • Washington’s 10 unique girl names: Mishika, Simona, Angelika, Hermela, Masina, Meklit, Shelly, Skadi, Soliana, Zakia
  • Washington’s top 10 unique boy names: Ruvim, Leul, Nazar, Orrin, Eldon, Ilya, Odysseus, Roscoe, Ryett, Tavish (total of 11)

West Virginia

  • West Virginia’s top girl name: Amelia
  • West Virginia’s top boy name: Asher
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

Wisconsin

  • Wisconsin’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Wisconsin’s top boy name: Henry
  • Wisconsin’s 3 unique girl names: Lorene, Luann, Maevis
  • Wisconsin’s 3 unique boy names: Lavern, Wilbur, Willem

Wyoming

  • Wyoming’s top girl name: Charlotte
  • Wyoming’s top boy name: Noah
  • No unique girl names.
  • No unique boy names.

(Here are the top baby names in Wyoming according to the state itself.)

Many of the unique names above can be attributed to large religious/ethnic groups within certain states, such as the Amish in Pennsylvania/Ohio/Indiana, the Jews in New York/New Jersey, the Mormons in Utah/Idaho, and the Somali in Minnesota.

In fact, some of the names that appeared in the data for two states can be attributed to usage within these groups as well. Examples include…

  • Hyrum, Utah & Idaho
  • Mckay, Utah & Idaho
  • Mordechai, New York & New Jersey
  • Malka, New York & New Jersey
  • Rhoda, Ohio & Pennsylvania

Do you have any thoughts about the single-state names above? Or about any of the other names in the 2022 state-by-state data? If so, please leave a comment!

(One thought I had: The most interesting top-5 this time around has to be West Virginia’s boys’ list: Asher, Grayson, Waylon, Oliver, and Liam. And sixth place is a tie between Maverick and Noah.)

Source: Popular Names by State – SSA

Image: Topographical Map of the USA by NOAA

Where did the baby name Quisto come from in 1984?

The character Quisto Champion from the TV western/soap opera "The Yellow Rose" (1983-1984).
Quisto from “The Yellow Rose“

The curious name Quisto debuted in the U.S. baby name data in the middle of the 1980s:

  • 1986: unlisted
  • 1985: unlisted
  • 1984: 9 baby boys named Quisto [debut]
  • 1983: unlisted
  • 1982: unlisted

While Quisto was only in the data once, it debuted impressively enough to tie for top one-hit wonder boy name of 1984.

Where did it come from?

The short-lived nighttime soap opera/western The Yellow Rose (1983-1984), which was set in West Texas on the sprawling “Yellow Rose” ranch. The ranch had been built by the late Wade Champion, but was now being run by Wade’s young widow Colleen (played by Cybill Shepherd) and his sons Roy and “Quisto” (real name Ramon).

I don’t know how the character acquired his nickname (if anyone out there watched the show and remembers, please leave a comment!), but I can tell you about the cowboy slang term quisto. It refers to a quirt — a woven-leather whip with a short handle and “a lash of three or four heavy, loose thongs.” The word quirt is derived from the Mexican Spanish word cuarta, “whip,” which comes from the Spanish word cuerda, “cord.”

And Quisto wasn’t the only Yellow Rose character to have an impact on baby names. Chance McKenzie — a “lanky, taciturn” ex-convict and ranch-hand played by Sam Elliott — gave the baby name Chance a boost in 1984:

  • 1986: 508 baby boys named Chance [rank: 368th]
  • 1985: 650 baby boys named Chance [rank: 313th]
  • 1984: 880 baby boys named Chance [rank: 249th]
  • 1983: 230 baby boys named Chance [rank: 555th]
  • 1982: 186 baby boys named Chance [rank: 636th]

What are your thoughts on the names Chance and Quisto? Which one would you be more likely to use?

Sources: