How popular is the baby name Foxy 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 Foxy.

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Popularity of the baby name Foxy


Posts that mention the name Foxy

Interesting one-hit wonder names in the U.S. baby name data

single flower

They came, they went, and they never came back!

These baby names are one-hit wonders in the U.S. baby name data. That is, they’ve only popped up once, ever, in the entire dataset of U.S. baby names (which accounts for all names given to at least 5 U.S. babies per year since 1880).

There are thousands of one-hit wonders in the dataset, but the names below have interesting stories behind their single appearance, so these are the one-hits I’m writing specific posts about. Just click on a name to read more.

2020s

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s

1910s

1900s

  • (none yet)

1890s

As I discover (and write about) more one-hit wonders in the data, I’ll add the names/links to this page. In the meanwhile, do you have any favorite one-hit wonder baby names?

Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.

[Latest update: Apr. 2024]

What turned Shaft into a baby name in 1971?

The character John Shaft from the movie "Shaft" (1971)
John Shaft from “Shaft“

The unusual name Shaft debuted in the U.S. baby name data in the early 1970s:

  • 1973: 16 baby boys named Shaft
  • 1972: 31 baby boys named Shaft
  • 1971: 22 baby boys named Shaft [debut]
  • 1970: unlisted
  • 1969: unlisted

Why?

Because of the highly profitable film Shaft, which was released in July of 1971.

Shaft introduced theatergoers to black, New York City-based private detective John Shaft (played by Richard Roundtree). Here’s how a New York Times reviewer summed up both the character and the plot:

[John Shaft] lives in a book-lined, stereo-equipped Village du plex, keeps his extra gun (the one with the pearl handle) in the fridge, has a succession of black women and white women in bed, and, between-times, settles a potentially nasty gang-and-race war between Harlem’s black syndicate king and some white (Mafia) hoods, with the help of a small group of black revolutionaries.

The movie was based on the 1970 novel of the same name by (white) journalist Ernest Tidyman.

Movie post for "Shaft" (1971)

The film’s memorable theme song, which could be heard during the opening credits, was written and performed by Isaac Hayes.

They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother–
(Shut your mouth!)
But I’m talkin’ ’bout Shaft
(Then we can dig it)

Released as a single in September, “Theme from Shaft” reached #1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in November and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in April of the following year.

The first Shaft film was followed by a pair of sequels — Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973) — both of which also starred Roundtree.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Shaft?

P.S. I’ve found other baby names that were influenced by ’70s blaxploitation films, but none are as shocking as Shaft. They include Coffy, Foxy and Sheba — all of which saw higher usage thanks to the Pam Grier movies Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974) and Sheba, Baby (1975).

P.P.S. One of the female backup singers on “Theme from Shaft” was Telma Hopkins of Tony Orlando and Dawn…

Sources:

Top image: Screenshot of Shaft