How popular is the baby name Glenna in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Glenna.

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Popularity of the Baby Name Glenna


Posts that Mention the Name Glenna

How did “Giant” influence baby names?

Poster for the movie "Giant" (1956)

One of last week’s post featured Glenna Lee McCarthy, whose father was famous Texas oil prospector and entrepreneur Glenn McCarthy (1907-1988).

Writer Edna Ferber fictionalized Glenn’s rags-to-riches life story in her novel Giant (1952) with the character Jett Rink.

The book was later made into a movie, which came out in October of 1956. Jett was played by James Dean, who had died in a car accident a month before the film premiered.

The other two main characters were Jordan “Bick” Benedict (played by Rock Hudson) and his wife Leslie Benedict (Elizabeth Taylor). Secondary characters included the Benedicts’ son Jordan, or “Jordy” (Dennis Hopper) and a neighbor named Vashti (Jane Withers).

The movie did well at the box office and was nominated for various Academy Awards, including a posthumous Best Actor nomination for Dean. It also gave a boost to several baby names:

Name1955195619571958
Leslie
(girl name)		4,401 babies
[rank: 99th]		4,386 babies
[rank: 104th]		6,100 babies
[rank: 77th]		6,008 babies
[rank: 79th]
Jett
(boy name)		5 babies14 babies24 babies17 babies
Jordan
(boy name)		105 babies
[rank: 713th]		101 babies
[rank: 734th]		207 babies
[rank: 540th]		184 babies
[rank: 568th]
Jordy
(boy name)		..5 babies
[debut]		.
Vashti
(girl name)		8 babies7 babies16 babies10 babies

Interestingly, the name Luz — which, like Jordan, was used for two different characters in the movie — saw a slight decline from 1956 to 1957.

Source: Giant (1956) – Wikipedia

Where did the baby name Glenalee come from?

glenna lee mccarthy, glenalee, baby name, 1950s

The baby name Glenalee was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. data in 1951. (In fact, it was tied for 1951’s top one-hit wonders of the year.)

  • 1953: unlisted
  • 1952: unlisted
  • 1951: 9 baby girls named Glenalee
  • 1950: unlisted
  • 1949: unlisted

Where did it come from?

An oil heiress who eloped with a cobbler’s son!

The bride was 17-year-old Glenna Lee McCarthy, daughter of famous Texas oilman Glenn McCarthy. She was a student at Lamar High School in Houston at the time.

(Glenn McCarthy was one of the men who inspired Edna Ferber to write the novel Giant in 1952. It was later made into a film starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson.)

The groom was 19-year-old George Pontikes, son of a Greek cobbler. He had graduated from Lamar and was now attending Rice University, where he played football.

In early December, 1950, the pair ran off to Waco to be married by a justice of the peace. News of their elopement broke toward the end of the month — right around the time that Glenna’s older sister, Mary Margaret, was getting married in a much more traditional manner. (That must have been awkward.)

Glenna and George were in the news for several days straight at the very end of 1950. Many papers, including the New York Times, mistakenly called the bride “Glenalee McCarthy.” (Not all did, though, and the baby name Glenna saw peak usage in 1951 as a result.)

Papa Glenn McCarthy was unhappy about the elopement at first, but one paper reported that “trigger-tempered McCarthy” had “calmed down after [the] initial outburst of anger.” Perhaps he was quick to forgive because the situation was eerily familiar: He’d eloped with his own wife, the 16-year-old daughter of a wealthy oilman, back when he was a 23-year-old gas station attendant in 1930.

Do you like the name Glenalee (…even if it started out as a typo)?

Sources:

Rare Girl Names from Early Cinema: G

Looking for an uncommon girl name with a retro feel?

Here’s a list of rare female G-names associated with the earliest decades of cinema (1910s to 1940s).

I’ve included links to popularity graphs for the names that have seen enough usage to appear in the SSA data.

Gaby
Gaby Derilly was a character played by actress Josette Andriot in the short film The Green God (1913).

  • Usage of the baby name Gaby.

Gail
Gail Kane was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1887. Her birth name was Abigail Kane. Gail Patrick was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1930s. She was born in Alabama in 1911. Her birth name was Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick. Gail was also a character name in multiple films, including Dangerous (1935) and Woman Doctor (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Gail.

Gaile
Gaile Warren was a character played by actress Ruth Robinson in the film An American Tragedy (1931).

  • Usage of the baby name Gaile.

Galatea
Galatea was a character name in multiple films, including Pygmalion and Galatea (short, 1912) and It’s a Cruel World (short, 1918).

Garda
Garda Sloane was a character played by various actresses (Florence Rice, Rosalind Russell, Ann Sothern) in various late-1930s mystery movies (Fast Company, Fast and Loose, Fast and Furious) written by Harry Kurnitz.

  • Usage of the baby name Garda.

Garla
Garla was a character played by actress Florine McKinney in the film Cynara (1932).

  • Usage of the baby name Garla.

Garnet
Garnet was a character name in multiple films, including Johnny Eager (1941) and So Goes My Love (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Garnet.

Gavinia
Gavinia was a character played by actress Kate Davenport in the film Sentimental Tommy (1921).

Gaya
Gaya was a character played by actress Irene Wallace in the short film The Master of the Bengals (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Gaya.

Gayle
Gayle Adams was a character played by actress Claudia Dell in the film What Becomes of the Children? (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Gayle.

Gaza
Gaza was a character played by actress Carmen Phillips in the film A Cafe in Cairo (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Gaza.

Gazella
Gazella Perkins was a character played by actress Helen Jerome Eddy in the film Girls Demand Excitement (1931).

Gee Gee
Gee Gee Graham was a character played by actress Iris Adrian in the film Lady of Burlesque (1943).

Genelle
Genelle was a character played by actress Betty Compson in the film The Green Temptation (1922).

Genesta
Genesta Slott was a character played by actress Sydney Fairbrother in the film All In (1936).

Genevia
Genevia was a character played by actress Nina Vanna in the film The Man Without Desire (1923).

Genevra
Genevra was a character name in multiple films, including The Talk of the Town (1918) and The Man from Brodney’s (1923).

Gentian
Gentian Tyrell was a character played by actress Gladys Franzin in the film Let Not Man Put Assunder (1924).

Genya
Genya Smetana was a character played by actress Pola Negri in the film Hi Diddle Diddle (1943).

  • Usage of the baby name Genya.

George-Anne
George-Anne Carleton was a character played by actress Janet Gaynor in the film The Young in Heart (1938).

Georgette
Georgette was a character name in multiple films, including A Husband’s Awakening (short, 1912) and So This Is Paris (1926).

Georgi
Georgi Gragore was a character played by actress Hedy Lamarr in the film I Take This Woman (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Georgi.

Georgie
Georgie Hastings was a character played by actress Sally O’Neil in the film The Lovelorn (1927).

Georgine
Georgine was a character name in multiple films, including The French Doll (1923) and Play Girl (1932).

Gerda
Gerda Holmes was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in Illinois in 1892. Gerda was also a character name in multiple films, including Three Sinners (1928) and Babies for Sale (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Gerda.

Germaine
Germaine De Neel was an actress who appeared in films in the 1930s. She was born in Canada in 1911. Germaine was also a character name in multiple films, including Evening Clothes (1927) and The Great Garrick (1937).

Gerry
Gerry was a character name in multiple films, including Daring Danger (1932) and Tail Spin (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Gerry.

Gerta
Gerta Klangi was a character played by actress Tala Birell in the film The Captain Hates the Sea (1934).

  • Usage of the baby name Gerta.

Gertie
Gertie was a character name in multiple films, including Lamplighter (1921) and Gold Dust Gertie (1931).

  • Usage of the baby name Gertie.

Gertrude
Gertrude McCoy was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Georgia in 1890. Gertrude Robinson was an actress who appeared in films from the 1900s to the 1920s. She was born in New York in 1890. Gertrude was also a character name in multiple films, such as Coming-Out Party (1934).

Ghirlaine
Ghirlaine was a character played by actress Doris Kenyon in the film The Blonde Saint (1926).

Ghita
Ghita Galin was a character played by actress Alice Brady in the film Metropolitan (1935).

  • Usage of the baby name Ghita.

Ghula
Ghula was a character played by actress Dolly Larkin in the short film The Message of the Rose (1913).

Giacinta
Giacinta was a character played by actress Cissy Fitzgerald in the film Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928).

Giannina
Giannina was a character played by actress Mary Pickford in the short film The Violin Maker of Cremona (1909).

Gigi
Gigi Perreau was an actress who appeared from the 1940s to the 2010s. She was born in France in 1941. Her birth name was Ghislaine Elizabeth Marie Thérèse Perreau-Saussine.

  • Usage of the baby name Gigi.

Gilberta
Gilberta Stanley was a character played by actress Lulu Bowers in the film The Matrimonial Martyr (1916).

Gilberte
Gilberte was a character name in multiple films, including A Hungry Heart (1917) and A Night of Mystery (1928).

Gilda
Gilda was a character name in multiple films, including Go Straight (1925) and Gilda (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Gilda.

Ginette
Ginette was a character name in multiple films, including The Two Girls (1921) and A Kiss in a Taxi (1927).

Ginna
Ginna was a character played by actress Eve Arden in the film My Reputation (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Ginna (which debuted in the data in 1947).

Ginny
Ginny Simms was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was born in Texas in 1913. Her birth name was Virginia Ellen Simms. Ginny was also a character played by actress Luana Patten in the film Song of the South (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Ginny.

Girda
Girda was a character name in multiple films, including Fool’s Paradise (1921) and The Girl in the Flat (1934).

Gita
Gita Carteret was a character played by actress Dorothy Mackaill in the film The Crystal Cup (1927).

  • Usage of the baby name Gita.

Giuditta
Giuditta Pasta was a character played by actress Benita Hume in the film The Divine Spark (1935).

Glad
Glad was a character played by various actresses (such as Mary Pickford and Jacqueline Logan) in various movies called The Dawn of a Tomorrow, all based on the novella of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Glenda
Glenda Farrell was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1970s. She was born in Oklahoma in 1901. Glenda was also a character name in multiple films, including The White Parade (1934) and Down Argentine Way (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Glenda.

Glenna
Glenna Marsh was a character played by actress Dorothy Revier in the film The Siren (1927).

  • Usage of the baby name Glenna.

Glenny
Glenny was a character played by actress Janet Sully in the film The Lure of Luxury (1918).

  • Usage of the baby name Glenny.

Glinda
Glinda was a character name in multiple films, including The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908) and The Wizard of Oz (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Glinda.

Glorian
Glorian Gray was an actress who appeared in films in the 1930s.

Gloriana
Gloriana was a character played by actress Zoe Rae in the film Gloriana (1916).

Glorietta
Glorietta Hope was a character played by actress Lucille Carlisle in the short film The Counter Jumper (1922).

Gloriette
Gloriette French was an actress who appeared in 1 film in 1931.

Godiva
Godiva was a character name in multiple films, including Lady Godiva (short, 1911) and The Story of the Blood Red Rose (short, 1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Godiva.

Gonda
Gonda was a character played by actress Belle Bennett in the film Ashes of Hope (1917).

Googie
Googie Withers was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1990s. She was born in British India (now Pakistan) in 1917. Her birth name was Georgette Lizette Withers.

Gora
Gora Dwight was a character played by actress Clarissa Selwynne in the film Black Oxen (1923).

Goytia
Goytia was a character played by actress Lottice Howell in the film In Gay Madrid (1930).

Granella
Granella was a character played by actress Malvina Longfellow in the film The Wandering Jew (1923).

Gratia
Gratia Latham was a character played by actress Pearl White in the film A Virgin Paradise (1921).

  • Usage of the baby name Gratia.

Grazia
Grazia was a character played by actress Evelyn Venable in the film Death Takes a Holiday (1934).

  • Usage of the baby name Grazia.

Gretna
Gretna Hillman was a character played by actress Sally Crute in the short film The Mystery of the Talking Wire (1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Gretna.

Griselda
Griselda was a character name in multiple films, including The Adventure Hunter (short, 1915) and Two-Faced Woman (1941).

Grizel
Grizel was a character name in multiple films, including Sentimental Tommy (1921) and Enchantment (1948).

  • Usage of the baby name Grizel.

Grizette
Grizette was a character played by actress Clara Bow in the film Kiss Me Again (1925).

Gudula
Gudula Rothschild was a character played by actress Helen Westley in the film The House of Rothschild (1934).

Guerda
Guerda Anthony was a character played by actress Constance Bennett in the film Wandering Fires (1925).

Guerita
Guerita was a character played by actress Barbara La Marr in the film Thy Name is Woman (1924).

Guillemette
Guillemette was a character played by actress Arlette Marchal in the film The Hen (1933).

Gulnar
Gulnar was a character played by actress Fanny Ferrari in the film Kismet (1920).

Gunhild
Gunhild was a character played by actress Seena Owen in the film A Yankee from the West (1915).

Guninana
Guninana was a character played by actress Steffi Duna in the film Man of Two Worlds (1934).

Gurtha
Gurtha was a character played by actress Hilda Vaughn in the film Banjo on My Knee (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Gurtha.

Gussie
Gussie Bosley was a character played by actress Myrta Bonillas in the film The Custard Cup (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Gussie.

Gusta
Gusta was a character played by actress Gwili Andre in the film A Woman’s Face (1941).

  • Usage of the baby name Gusta.

Gwendoline
Gwendoline was a character played by actress Beverly Bayne in the short film Love and Lavallieres (1913).

Gwennie
Gwennie Lyne was a character played by actress Julia Swayne Gordon in the film The Maelstrom (1917).

Gwenny
Gwenny Miller was a character played by actress June Lang in the film Too Many Women (1942).

Gwili
Gwili Andre was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Denmark in 1908. Her birth name was Gurli Andresen.

  • Usage of the baby name Gwili (which debuted the year Andre’s first film came out).

Gwyn
Gwyn Allen was a character played by actress Arline Judge in the film Smith of Minnesota (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Gwyn.

Gwynne
Gwynne Evans was a character played by actress Leatrice Joy in the film Changing Husbands (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Gwynne.

Gypsy
Gypsy Abbott was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in Georgia in 1897. Gypsy Rose Lee was an actress who appeared in films in the 1930s to the 1960s. She was born in Washington in 1911. Her birth name was Rose Louise Hovick. Gypsy was also a character played by actress Evelyn Brent in the film Bowery Champs (1944).

  • Usage of the baby name Gypsy.

…Which of the above G-names do you like best?

Source: IMDb

Rare Girl Names from Early Cinema: Letter J

jetta, j-name, early cinema, baby name

Looking for an off-the-radar J-name for your baby girl? Here’s the latest installment of rare female names collected from very old films (released from the 1910s to the 1940s).

For the names that saw enough usage to register in the U.S. data, I’ve included links to the popularity graphs.

Jacala
Jacala Auehli was a character played by actress Priscilla Dean in the film The Brazen Beauty (1918).

Jacinta
Jacinta was a character played by actress Nanci Price in the film In Gay Madrid (1930).

Jacintha
Jacintha was a character played by actress Lule Warrenton in the film White Lies (1920).

Jacynth
Jacynth was a character played by actress Malvina Longfellow in the film Holy Orders (1917).

Jahala
Jahala Chandler was a character played by actress Pauline Starke in the film Dance Magic (1927).

  • Usage of the baby name Jahala (which debuted in the data the year Dance Magic came out, but never returned, making it a one-hit wonder).

Jalna
Countess Jalna was a character played by actress Edith Roberts in the film The Man from Headquarters (1928).

Jamilla
Jamilla was a character played by actress Marlene Dietrich in the film Kismet (1944).

Jania
Jania was a character played by actress Lupe Velez in the film Stand and Deliver (1928).

  • Usage of the baby name Jania.

Janina
Janina was a character played by actress Myrtle Stedman in the film Chickie (1925).

  • Usage of the baby name Janina.

Janira
Janira was a character played by actress Tsuru Aoki in the short film The Beckoning Flame (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Janira.

Jantje
Jantje was a character played by actress Eva Moore in the film Power (1934).

Jassy
Jassy was a character played by actress Margaret Lockwood in the film Jassy (1947).

Jaynie
Jaynie Stevens was a character played by actress Lynn Bari in the film Orchestra Wives (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Jaynie (which debuted in the data the year Orchestra Wives came out).

Jazzbo
Jazzbo Gans was a character played by actress Edna Murphy in the film Dancing Sweeties (1930).

Jeanie
Jeanie was a character name in multiple films, including What Shall I Do? (1924) and Parole Girl (1933).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeanie.

Jeanne
Jeanne d’Alcy was an actress who appeared in films from the 1890s to the 1900s. She was born in 1865 in France. Her birth name was Charlotte Lucie Marie Adèle Stephanie Adrienne Faës. Jeanne Eagels was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in 1890 in Missouri. Her birth name was Amelia Jean Eagles. Jeanne Aubert was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was born in 1900 in France. Jeanne was also a character name in multiple films, including The Phantom’s Secret (1917) and The Flower of the North (1922).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeanne.

Jeannette
Jeannette was a character name in multiple films, including The Greatest Thing in Life (1918) and Devil’s Island (1926).

Jeannine
Jeannine was a character name in multiple films, including Lilac Time (1928) and Assignment in Brittany (1943).

Jeantine
Jeantine was a character played by actress Merceita Esmond in the film The Beautiful Adventure (1917).

Jellia
Jellia Jamb was a character played by actress Glenna Vaughn in the film The Land of Oz (1932).

Jeneka
Princess Jeneka was a character played by actress Terza Bey in the film The Slim Princess (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Jeneka.

Jennitt
Jennitt Hicks was a character played by actress Patricia Dane in the film Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941).

Jemmy
Jemmy Milligan was a character played by actress Shirley Mason in the film The Winning Girl (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Jemmy.

Jerri
Jerri Vail was a character played by actress Lynne Roberts in the film Lightnin’ in the Forest (1948).

  • Usage of the baby name Jerri.

Jerry
Jerry was a character name in multiple films, including The Office Scandal (1929) and Merrily We Live (1938).

  • Usage of the baby name Jerry.

Jesda
Jesda was a character played by actress Bessie Eyton in the short film In the Tents of the Asra (1912).

Jessamine
Jessamine Wilton was a character played by actress Helen Dunbar in the short film The Fable of the Two Sensational Failures (1915).

Jesseva
Jesseva was a character played by actress Bobbie Gould in the film The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).

Jetta
Jetta (pronounced ZHET-eh) Goudal was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1930s. She was born in 1891 in the Netherlands. Her birth name Juliette Henriette Goudeket.

  • Usage of the baby name Jetta.

Jimmie
Jimmie Turner was a character played by actress Ruth Stonehouse in the short film Flames of Passion (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Jimmie.

Jinjur
Jinjur was a character played by actress Marie Wayne in the film The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).

Jinx
Jinx Falkenburg was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Spain in 1919. Her birth name was Eugenia Lincoln Falkenburg. Jinx was also a character name in the film Juke Box Jenny (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Jinx.

Jinxy
Jinxy was a character played by actress Sally Eilers in the film Don’t Get Personal (1936).

Joby
Joby Madison was a character played by actress Pauline Moore in the film The Carson City Kid (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Joby.

Jobyna
Jobyna Ralston was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Tennessee in 1899.

  • Usage of the baby name Jobyna.

Jody
Josephine “Jody” Norris was a character played by actress Olivia de Havilland in the film To Each His Own (1946).

  • Usage of the baby name Jody.

Joie
Joie Malet was a character played by actress Louise Lorraine in the film The Altar Stairs (1922).

  • Usage of the baby name Joie.

Jojo
Jojo Dumont was a character played by actress Evelyn Ankers in the film Parole, Inc. (1948).

  • Usage of the baby name Jojo.

Jolanda
Jolanda Whiple was a character played by actress Dorothy Gish in the film The Country Flapper (1922).

Joline
Joline Hofer was a character played by actress Viola Dana in the film Revelation (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Joline.

Jonesy
Jonesy was a (female) character name in multiple films, including Hollywood Hotel (1937) and Babes on Broadway (1941).

José
José Collins was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in England in 1887. Her birth name was Josephine Charlotte Collins.

  • Usage of the baby name Jose.

Josephita
Josephita Guerrero was a character played by actress Renée Adorée in the film Tide of Empire (1929).

Josette
Josette Andriot was an actress who appeared in films from the 1900s to the 1910s. She was born in France in 1886. Her birth name was Camille Élisa Andriot. Josette was also a character played by actress Tala Birell in the film Josette (1938).

Josiana
Duchess Josiana was a character played by actress Olga Baclanova in the film The Man Who Laughs (1928).

Josina
Josina was a character played by actress Alice Hollister in the short film The Alien (1913).

  • Usage of the baby name Josina.

Josseline
Josseline Gaël was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was born in France in 1917. Her birth name was Jeannine Augustine Jeanne Blanleuil.

Joyzelle
Joyzelle Joyner was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1930s. She was born in Alabama in 1905.

Jubie
Jubie Davis was a character played by actress Virginia Weidler in the film Gold Rush Maisie (1940).

Julanne
Julanne Johnston was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Indiana in 1900.

Juline
Juline was a character played by actress Lillian Yarbo in the film Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941).

  • Usage of the baby name Juline.

Juneau
Juneau MacLean was a character played by actress Aileen Pringle in the film The Wilderness Woman (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Juneau.

Junella
Junella was a character played by actress Willa Pearl Curtis in the film Mom and Dad (1945).

Junetta
Junetta was a character played by actress Binnie Barnes in the film Love Lies (1931).

Junie
Junie Green was a character played by actress Phyllis Gordon in the short film Saved by Fire (1912).

  • Usage of the baby name Junie.

*

…Which of the above names do you like best?

Source: IMDb

Contrarian Baby Names: Cliff, Janet, Steve, Wanda…

contrarian baby names, uncool baby names

“Everly” is hot…”Beverly” is not. It’s a one-letter difference between fashionable and fusty.

If you’re sensitive to style, you’ll prefer Everly. It fits with today’s trends far better than Beverly does.

But if you’re someone who isn’t concerned about style, or prefers to go against style, then you may not automatically go for Everly. In fact, you may be more attracted to Beverly because it’s the choice that most modern parents would avoid.

If you’ve ever thought about intentionally giving your baby a dated name (like Debbie, Grover, Marcia, or Vernon) for the sake of uniqueness within his/her peer group — if you have no problem sacrificing style for distinctiveness — then this list is for you.

Years ago, the concept of “contrarian” baby names came up in the comments of a post about Lois. Ever since then, creating a collection of uncool/contrarian baby names has been on my to-do list.

Finally, last month, I experimented with various formulas for pulling unstylish baby names out of the SSA dataset. Keeping the great-grandparent rule in mind, I aimed for names that would have been fashionable among the grandparents of today’s babies. The names below are the best results I got.

Contrarian Baby Names: Girls

Alberta
Anita
Ann
Annetta
Annette
Bambi
Becky
Benita
Bertha
Bessie
Beth
Betty
Beverley
Beverly
Blanche
Bobbie
Bobby
Bonita
Candy
Caren
Carlene
Carol
Carole
Cary
Caryn
Cathleen
Cathy
Charla
Charlene
Charmaine
Cheri
Cherie
Cheryl
Chris
Christi
Cindy
Claudette
Coleen
Colleen
Connie
Dale
Danette
Danita
Darlene
Dawn
Dawna
Deanne
Debbie
Debora
Debra 		Deirdre
Delores
Denice
Denise
Diane
Dianna
Dianne
Dollie
Dolores
Dona
Donna
Doreen
Dori
Doris
Dorthy
Eddie
Edwina
Ernestine
Ethel
Gail
Gayle
Gena
Geralyn
Germaine
Gilda
Glenda
Glenna
Harriett
Jackie
Janet
Janice
Janis
Jayne
Jean
Jeanette
Jeanie
Jeanine
Jeanne
Jeannette
Jeannie
Jeannine
Jeri
Jerri
Jerry
Jill
Jimmie
Jo
Joan
Joann
Joanne 		Jodi
Jody
Joellen
Joni
Juanita
Judi
Judy
Juli
Kandi
Karin
Kathie
Kathy
Kay
Kaye
Kerrie
Kerry
Kim
Kimberley
Kitty
Kris
Kristi
Ladonna
Laureen
Lauretta
Laurie
Lavonne
Lee
Leesa
Lois
Lorene
Lori
Lorie
Lorinda
Lorna
Lorraine
Lorrie
Lou
Louann
Lu
Luann
Luanne
Lucretia
Lupe
Lyn
Lynda
Lynn
Lynne
Madonna
Marcia
Marcy 		Margie
Mariann
Marianne
Marla
Marsha
Maryjo
Maureen
Meg
Melba
Melinda
Melva
Michele
Migdalia
Mitzi
Myrna
Nanette
Nelda
Nicki
Nita
Norma
Pamela
Patrice
Patsy
Patti
Patty
Pauline
Peggy
Pennie
Phyllis
Randy
Reba
Rene
Rhonda
Rita
Robbie
Robbin
Roberta
Robin
Rochelle
Ronda
Rosanne
Roseann
Roxane
Roxann
Sandy
Saundra
Sharon
Sheila
Shelia
Shelley 		Shelly
Sheri
Sherri
Sherry
Sheryl
Shirley
Sondra
Sue
Susanne
Suzan
Suzanne
Tammie
Tammy
Tena
Teri
Terri
Terry
Thelma
Theresa
Therese
Tina
Tonia
Tonya
Tracey
Traci
Tracie
Tracy
Treva
Trina
Trudy
Velma
Verna
Vicki
Vickie
Vicky
Wanda
Wendy
Willie
Wilma
Yolanda
Yvonne

Contrarian Baby Names: Boys

Adolph
Al
Alford
Alphonso
Arne
Arnie
Arnold
Artie
Barry
Barton
Bennie
Bernard
Bernie
Bert
Bill
Billie
Bob
Bobbie
Brad
Bradford
Brent
Bret
Britt
Bud
Buddy
Burl
Burt
Butch
Carey
Carleton
Carlton
Carmen
Carroll
Cary
Cecil
Chester
Chuck
Clarence
Claude
Cletus
Cleveland
Cliff
Clifford
Clifton
Columbus
Curt
Curtiss
Dale
Dan
Dana 		Dannie
Darrel
Darryl
Daryl
Dave
Davie
Del
Delbert
Dell
Delmer
Denny
Derwin
Dewey
Dirk
Don
Donnie
Donny
Doug
Douglass
Doyle
Duane
Dudley
Duwayne
Dwain
Dwaine
Dwane
Dwight
Earl
Earnest
Ed
Edsel
Elbert
Ernie
Farrell
Floyd
Fred
Freddie
Fredric
Gale
Garland
Garry
Garth
Gene
Geoffrey
Gerard
Gerry
Gilbert
Glen
Glenn
Greg 		Gregg
Greggory
Grover
Guy
Hal
Haywood
Herbert
Herman
Homer
Horace
Howell
Hubert
Irwin
Jackie
Jame
Jeff
Jefferey
Jeffry
Jerald
Jerold
Jess
Jim
Jimmie
Jodie
Jody
Johnie
Johnnie
Karl
Kelly
Ken
Kenney
Kennith
Kent
Kermit
Kerry
Kim
Kirk
Kraig
Kurt
Laurence
Lawrance
Len
Lenard
Lennie
Les
Leslie
Lester
Lindell
Lindsay
Lindsey 		Linwood
Lloyd
Lonnie
Lonny
Loren
Lorin
Lowell
Loyd
Lynn
Marion
Marty
Matt
Maxie
Mel
Merle
Merrill
Mickel
Mickey
Millard
Milton
Mitch
Mitchel
Monty
Neal
Ned
Nicky
Norbert
Norman
Norris
Orville
Perry
Pete
Phil
Ralph
Randal
Randel
Randell
Randolph
Rayford
Rick
Rickey
Rickie
Rob
Robby
Robin
Rock
Rodger
Rogers
Rojelio
Rolf 		Ron
Roosevelt
Rudolfo
Rudolph
Rufus
Russ
Rusty
Sal
Sammie
Sandy
Sanford
Scot
Sherman
Sherwood
Skip
Stan
Stanford
Steve
Stevie
Stewart
Stuart
Sylvester
Tad
Ted
Terence
Thurman
Tim
Timmothy
Timmy
Tod
Todd
Tom
Tommie
Toney
Tracey
Tracy
Val
Vernell
Vernon
Waymon
Wendell
Wilbert
Wilbur
Wilford
Wilfred
Willard
Willis
Winfred
Woody

Interestingly, thirteen of the names above — Bobbie, Cary, Dale, Jackie, Jimmie, Jody, Kerry, Kim, Lynn, Robin, Sandy, Tracey, Tracy — managed to make both lists.

Now some questions for you…

Do you like any of these names? Would you be willing to use any of them on a modern-day baby? Why or why not?