How popular is the baby name Gemma 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 Gemma.
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Last Wednesday, the Quaker Oats Company announced that it would be terminating the Aunt Jemima brand as we know it. Here’s part of the company’s statement:
Aunt Jemima brand is removing its image from packaging and changing the brand name. This step is in line with PepsiCo’s journey toward racial equality, and the evolution will help carry the 130-year-old brand into the future.
Thursday and Friday, the companies behind Uncle Ben’s, Mrs. Butterworth’s, Cream of Wheat, and Eskimo Pie followed suit with similar announcements.
I’m very happy about all of this, but I’m particularly interested in the end of Aunt Jemima, because that brand is inextricably linked with a distinctive first name. In fact, I’d guess that, for the vast majority of Americans, the first thing they think of when they hear or see the name “Jemima” is Aunt Jemima syrup.
So now I have some questions for you…
Do you think the name’s strong association with the brand — which was established in 1889 and well-known by the mid-1910s — dissuaded parents from using Jemima as a baby name during the 20th century? (And, if so, do you think the usage of Jemima could possibly be seen as a gauge of racism in the U.S.?)
Once the brand name changes, how long before the name’s association with a racial stereotype finally fades away?
Could the Biblical name Jemima (Hebrew for “dove”) ever become a trendy American baby name (à la Gemma, Delilah)?
If you’re on the hunt for baby names with a numerological value of 3, you’re in luck! Because today’s post features hundreds of 3-names.
Before we get to the names, though — how do we know that they’re “threes” in numerology?
Turning names into numbers
Here’s how to calculate the numerological value of a name.
First, for each letter, come up with a number to represent that letter’s position in the alphabet. (Letter A would be number 1, letter B would be number 2, and so forth.) Then, add all the numbers together. If the sum has two or more digits, add the digits together recursively until the result is a single digit. That single digit is the name’s numerological value.
For instance, the letters in the name Tyson correspond to the numbers 20, 25, 19, 15, and 14. The sum of these numbers is 93. The digits of 93 added together equal 12, and the digits of 12 added together equal 3 — the numerological value of Tyson.
Baby names with a value of 3
Below you’ll find the most popular 3-names per gender, according to the latest U.S. baby name data. I’ve further sub-categorized them by total sums — just in case any of those larger numbers are significant to anyone.
3 via 12
The letters in the following baby names add up to 12, which reduces to three (1+2=3).
Girl names (3 via 12)
Boy names (3 via 12)
Aja, Fae, Bia, Abi, Bee
Gad, Jb, Abed
3 via 21
The letters in the following baby names add up to 21, which reduces to three (2+1=3).
Girl names (3 via 21)
Boy names (3 via 21)
Kai, Asa, Gala, Jaia, Clea
Kai, Kade, Asa, Alec, Ben, Beck, Cale
3 via 30
The letters in the following baby names add up to 30, which reduces to three (3+0=3).
There’s no definitive answer, unfortunately, because various numerological systems exist, and each one has its own interpretation of the number three. That said, if we look at a couple of modern numerology/astrology websites, we see 3 being described as “creative,” “optimistic,” “friendly,” “outgoing,” and “self-expressive.”
We can also look at associations, which are a bit more concrete. Here are some things that are associated with the number 3:
Triple crown (victory in three events)
Hat trick (3 goals scored in one game by a single player)
Circus (3 rings)
Yard (3 feet)
Three-act structure (in narrative)
Rule of thirds (in photography)
Traffic lights
Manx flag (3 legs)
What does the number 3 mean to you? What are your strongest associations with the number?
P.S. To see names with other numerological values, check out the posts for the numbers one, two, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine.
I’ve got a post on the top names in England and Wales scheduled for Monday, but until then here are a couple of “biggest changes” analyses. We’ll do the girl names today and the boy names tomorrow.
The tables below include two versions of each list. On the left are the top raw-number differences, taking all names into account. On the right are the top ranking differences, taking only the top 1,000 names (roughly) into account.
Biggest Increases in Popularity
Raw Numbers (all names)
Rankings (top 1,000)
Sienna, +586 babies
Scarlett, +395
Elsie, +293
Sofia, +274
Thea, +241
Ivy, +234
Poppy, +219
Evelyn, +193
Willow, +182
Alice, +172
Reeva, +4951 spots
Esmay, +844
Bea, +761
Khaleesi, +711
Neriah, +703
Keeva, +690
Siyana, +650
Milan, +643
Isla-Mae, +574
Dahlia, +566
Eleanor “Elea” Nickerson of British Baby Names mentioned the rise of Reeva yesterday on Facebook, attributing it to Reeva Steenkamp, the girlfriend Oscar Pistorius allegedly murdered. That sounds like a good explanation to me. In fact, the murder early last year (and the ongoing news coverage) might explain why Oscar itself saw such a big increase in 2013.
Can you think of explanations for any of the other names? (Well, besides Khaleesi. I think we all know where that one comes from at this point.)
Biggest Decreases in Popularity
Raw Numbers (all names)
Rankings (top 1,000)
Amelia, -1491 babies
Lily, -919
Jessica, -658
Mia, -531
Evie, -513
Sophie, -483
Lola, -436
Maisie, -393
Holly, -391
Grace, -389
Gemma, -402 spots
Lilly-Mai, -364
Krystal, -360
Star, -320
Sian, -297
Tayla, -286
Bo, -271
Veronica, -256
Zaina, -246
Tahlia, -240
Top Debut Name
Everly.
Fewer than 3 baby girls got the name in 2012, but 21 baby girls were named Everly in 2013. Everley, Everleigh and Everlyn have been on the list before, but never Everly. (I only have the full England and Wales baby name lists going back to 2007, though.)
A few weeks ago, The Stir posted a list of 20 pairs of baby names for girl-boy twins.
The problem with their list? Each matchy-matchy name-pair started with the same first letter.
Yes, most parents gravitate toward patterns when it comes to naming twins.
But should they?
If you’re in the “no” camp, here’s an alternative list. I’ve separated the pairings and given each of the 40 names a new, non-matchy partner — different first letter, different ending, different number of syllables.
Original pairing
1st new pairing
2nd new pairing
Hazel & Hugo Emma & Evan Madison & Mason Taylor & Tyler Vivienne & Val Ava & Alexander Chloe & Caleb Sophia & Samuel Eva & Ethan Penelope & Pax Savannah & Sebastian Lily & Luke Dylan & Dean Naomi & Noah Imogen & Isaac Juliette & James Christina & Christian Grace & Gavin Avery & Aiden Claire & Clive
Hazel & Benjamin Emma & Charles Madison & Liam Taylor & Grant Vivienne & Phillip Ava & Carl Chloe & Gabriel Sophia & Owen Eva & Jack Penelope & Duncan Savannah & Zane Lily & Cash Dylan & Matthias Naomi & Joseph Imogen & Grey Juliette & Simon Christina & Thomas Grace & Dominic Avery & Beau Claire & Julian
Hugo & Adelaide Evan & Sabrina Mason & Aria Tyler & Addison Val & Edie Alexander & Daphne Caleb & Lydia Samuel & Hannah Ethan & Amelia Pax & Kira Sebastian & Gemma Luke & Maya Dean & Harper Noah & Abigail Isaac & Johanna James & Tabitha Christian & Veronica Gavin & Bree Aiden & Katrina Clive & Odette
What are your favorite non-matchy baby names for girl-boy twins?
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