How popular is the baby name Hakeem 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 Hakeem.

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Popularity of the baby name Hakeem


Posts that mention the name Hakeem

How did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar influence baby names?

Basketball players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wes Unseld
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Wes Unseld

Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with the Milwaukee Bucks from 1969 to 1974 and with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1989. And, like player Hakeem Olajuwon, he underwent a name change during his career.

Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis “Lew” Alcindor, Jr., in New York City in 1947. Twenty years later he was a standout player on the UCLA varsity basketball team (1967-1969). During this time period, the name Alcindor started appearing in the U.S. baby name data:

  • 1970: 9 baby boys named Alcindor
  • 1969: 7 baby boys named Alcindor
  • 1968: 7 baby boys named Alcindor [debut]
  • 1967: unlisted
  • 1966: unlisted

It stuck around for four consecutive years, and might have stuck around even longer had Lew not changed his name upon converting to Islam in 1971.

In an essay about his conversion, he mentioned that “Alcindor was a French planter in the West Indies who owned my ancestors. […] Keeping the name of my family’s slave master seemed somehow to dishonor them.” So he “became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (meaning “the noble one, servant of the Almighty”).”

His name change had an immediate effect upon U.S. boy names:

KareemAbdulJabbarKareen
1974324812748
1973243852930
19723789877*36**
19714449..
19701243..
*Debut (overall), **Gender-specific debut

In 1972, the usage of all three names — Kareem, Abdul, and Jabbar — increased. In fact, Jabbar was the top debut name of the year in 1972. The name Jabarr also popped up that year. Jabar, the best-guess phonetic version, arrived a year early.

Kareen, which had been charting a girl name, debuted impressively as boy name in ’72. And, in a nice show of symmetry, boy name Kareem debuted as a girl name the same year.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for twenty years, but it wasn’t until decades later, in the 2010s, that the tribute name Abduljabbar finally emerged in the data.

Source: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Wikipedia

P.S. Ahmad Rashad, father of Condola, is another public figure who adopted an Muslim name in the early ’70s.

A tale of two Q(u)adrees

football field

Qadree Ollison was born in New York on September 8, 1996. Quadree Henderson was born in Delaware just four days later, on September 12. Both of their first names are pronounced kwah-dree.

Just to give you an idea of the rarity of these names in the U.S., here’s the popularity graph for Qadree:

Graph of the usage of the baby name Qadree in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Qadree

And here’s the graph for Quadree:

Graph of the usage of the baby name Quadree in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Quadree

Both Qadree Ollison and Quadree Henderson ended up becoming talented football players. Both also decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh. So, by a curious twist of fate, they found themselves on the very same college football team.

Here’s how Ollison described the experience:

I don’t know if you’ve ever met somebody with the same name as you, but it was kind of awkward, where you’re like, ‘What’s up bro, I’m Qadree’ and he’s like, ‘What’s up bro, I’m Quadree.’ And it’s like you’re talking to yourself kind of, hearing somebody else say the same name right back to you.

Here’s how Henderson described the confusion:

If me and Qadree are standing next to each other and the coach says, ‘Quadree’ we’ll both turn back and have to make eye contact with the coach and he’s like, ‘Not that Quadree, the other Qadree.’

Another fun quote from Henderson:

I always make fun of him, and tell him he needs a ‘u’ in his name for the ‘qua’ part. I tell him I’m the real Quadree because I have a ‘u’ in my name.

Where did their unique names come from? Ollison’s mom “just wanted something different,” while Henderson’s mom “said [the name] comes from Muslim descent, and it means warrior, strong and not scared of anything.”

(This makes me think their names are based on the Arabic name Qadir, which means “capable, powerful,” and — along with Hakeem, Kareem, etc. — is one of the 99 names of Allah.)

These days, Qadree Ollison is playing for the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Quadree Henderson is playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL).

Sources:

Image: Adapted from New Meadowlands Stadium: Mezz Corner (cropped) by section215 under CC BY 2.0.

Numerology: Baby names with a value of 7

Baby names with a numerological value of 7

If you’re on the hunt for baby names with a numerological value of 7, you’re in luck! Because today’s post features hundreds of 7-names.

Before we get to the names, though — how do we know that they’re “sevens” 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 Victoria correspond to the numbers 22, 9, 3, 20, 15, 18, 9, and 1. The sum of these numbers is 97. The digits of 97 added together equal 16, and the digits of 16 added together equal 7 — the numerological value of Victoria.

Baby names with a value of 7

Below you’ll find the most popular 7-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.

7 via 16

The letters in the following baby names add up to 16, which reduces to seven (1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 16)Boy names (7 via 16)
Ana, Jada, Alba, Adaia, FiaCal, Chad, Jae, Dak, Efe

7 via 25

The letters in the following baby names add up to 25, which reduces to seven (2+5=7).

Girl names (7 via 25)Boy names (7 via 25)
Cali, Amaia, Adara, Naia, Baila, Danae, Jaida, Ahana, AniaJack, Gael, Mecca, Asad, Ahaan, Jan, Abbas, Aedan, Ike, Kam, Saad, Aahan

7 via 34

The letters in the following baby names add up to 34, which reduces to seven (3+4=7).

Girl names (7 via 34)Boy names (7 via 34)
Grace, Amara, Lila, Thea, Danna, Elle, Amanda, Anne, Della, Bailee, Kalia, Micah, Rebeca, Mika, Farah, Anaiah, Tala, Sama, Kaila, Lua, Asma, Huda, Emaan, Rana, Joi, Hilda, Fabiana, JamiaMicah, Jaden, Chance, Hank, Chaim, Noe, Neo, Canaan, Carl, Amado, Adnan, Kacen, Ayce, Esai, Reef, Joah, Mika

7 via 43

The letters in the following baby names add up to 43, which reduces to seven (4+3=7).

Girl names (7 via 43)Boy names (7 via 43)
Chloe, Ellie, Andrea, Ember, Annie, Gracie, Talia, Alexa, Alanna, Karla, Liv, Raina, Chanel, Barbara, Lilia, Lailah, Debanhi, Kadence, Ameera, Esmae, Milah, Yael, Laken, Grecia, Fern, Inara, Kailee, Klara, Adore, Amaria, Nell, Amaira, Alita, Charm, Theia, Mona, Aditi, Dayla, Arwa, Dianna, Evana, Adaly, Rania, Abbigail, Leya, Samia, Aleigha, Arina, Bayan, Kamiah, Atlee, Anari, Carli, Janiah, Keegan, Emy, KloeFinn, Beckham, Rafael, Mark, Derek, Callan, Iker, Erik, Jaiden, Ford, Ares, Ridge, Keegan, Aarav, Amias, Eliel, Arian, Yael, Kole, Blaine, Hakeem, Hasan, Laken, Jaire, Kreed, Huck, Ewan, Todd, Coy, Riaan, Jamar, Kadence, Rip, Noam, Calder, Azaan, Basil, Kalen, Tre, Dru, Kekoa, Shaan, Masai, Taim, Ahsan, Eoin, Aarin, Makhai, Hawk, Kavi, Amon, Zaccai

7 via 52

The letters in the following baby names add up to 52, which reduces to seven (5+2=7).

Girl names (7 via 52)Boy names (7 via 52)
Hazel, Nova, Naomi, Reese, Arabella, Aubree, Nyla, Dakota, Charlee, Jimena, Michaela, Angelica, Mikaela, Flora, Pearl, Goldie, Alexia, Alianna, Indy, Ariadne, Perla, Karlee, Farrah, Annalee, Kelani, Zya, Khadijah, Aleyah, Indiana, Eimy, Aries, Sinai, Annalia, Ryah, Shania, Kamaya, Alethea, Mayla, Italia, Callahan, Anabelle, Izel, Shaina, Laiken, Kenlee, Mallie, Athalia, Janaya, Cassia, Sabella, Alayla, Kezia, AerisCayden, Dakota, Seth, Jamari, Callahan, Raul, Keanu, Reese, Marcel, Karim, Cason, Ishaan, Aries, Nova, Tiago, Jesiah, Oren, Glenn, Kaladin, Josh, Samar, Richie, Daemon, Beauden, Takoda, Indy, Filip, Indiana, Jahlil, Lyan, Roen, Darell, Efraim, Dillan, Abhiram, Jamere, Nino, Masen, Dakhari, Javen

7 via 61

The letters in the following baby names add up to 61, which reduces to seven (6+1=7).

Girl names (7 via 61)Boy names (7 via 61)
Isabella, Lucy, Catalina, Adelyn, Mckenna, Luciana, Meadow, Miracle, Aylin, Jolene, Ivanna, Remy, Hadassah, Keilani, Sloan, Martha, Jovie, Samira, Rivka, Malayah, Amaris, Maylee, Ingrid, Yuna, Arely, Dalary, Aranza, Ivey, Ailyn, Arwen, Tabitha, Safiya, Ziya, Kasey, Addalyn, Alissa, Kelsie, Emry, Elsy, Rochel, Rumi, Maddox, Analise, Eloisa, Anylah, Azula, Norma, Maliya, Maddyn, Jakayla, Samarah, Delany, Aerith, Hollie, Naiomi, Desirae, Avigail, Azora, Riyah, Sanaya, Vianna, Haidyn, Eulalia, Tanya, Mulan, Daelyn, ItzaeRoman, Luis, Calvin, Maddox, Kevin, Andres, Richard, Remy, Nasir, Corbin, Raphael, Dorian, Cannon, Alfredo, Ramon, Brayan, Abdullah, Yahir, Anders, Cory, Daylen, Kaius, Edmund, Khamari, Eliot, Kasey, Clarence, Avion, Haziel, Armon, Amaris, Tamir, Oslo, Donnie, Jibreel, Sloan, Riker, Caison, Thor, Psalm, Evans, Itzae, Arley, Naveen, Flint, Javari, Elyjah, Mendy, Sameer, Ibraheem, Rumi, Fitz, Wolfe, Steel, Zayde, Aramis, Layden, Nivaan, Emry, Galileo, Darion, Ibrahima

7 via 70

The letters in the following baby names add up to 70, which reduces to seven (7+0=7).

Girl names (7 via 70)Boy names (7 via 70)
Eleanor, Ashley, Lilly, Lilith, Alexis, Lilliana, Francesca, Alison, Kenzie, Sierra, Melany, Romina, Khaleesi, Yareli, Bellamy, Rylan, Madalyn, Essence, Nathalie, Devyn, Ryder, Adrienne, Maelyn, Carson, Walker, Alyvia, Cherish, Noelani, Marion, Honor, Armoni, Sheyla, Santana, Remedy, Channing, Yailin, Aziyah, Ellyana, Laniyah, Francine, Havyn, Landyn, Zyra, Malayiah, Francis, Isley, Avonlea, Finleigh, Rhys, Emalyn, Naliyah, Jermani, AniylahHenry, Walker, Carson, Ryder, Simon, Josue, Otto, Rylan, Ronin, Rhys, Finnegan, Alexis, Francis, Philip, Bruno, Bellamy, Yosef, Santana, Harry, Jimmy, Landyn, Mathew, Atharv, Maurice, Reginald, Granger, Ephraim, Ozias, Willie, Lenox, Benton, Darrell, Lenny, Kaizer, Honor, Channing, Massiah, Rylo, Armoni, Quadir, Dashiell, Izayah, Kasyn, Kasper, Tevin, Kurt, Manolo, Rishaan, Dashawn, Keyon, Kallum, Yariel, Abdullahi, Devyn, Marion, Copeland, Terence, Pinchas, Josiel, Kaydon, Marwan

7 via 79

The letters in the following baby names add up to 79, which reduces to seven (7+9=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 79)Boy names (7 via 79)
Rosalie, Haisley, Maddison, Cheyenne, Ashlyn, Marigold, Soraya, Harriet, Evalyn, Beatrix, Kyndall, Renley, Annette, Katerina, Adilynn, Annelise, Larissa, Lincoln, Nirvana, Rynlee, Raizy, Josefina, Azeneth, Chesney, Kayley, Mayzie, Evolet, Janelly, Roberta, Harmonee, Leonor, Auriella, EmmeryWilliam, Lincoln, Colton, Xavier, Connor, Walter, Warren, Gunner, Harvey, Leonidas, Tripp, Frederick, Zyair, Nelson, Orlando, Douglas, Zechariah, Dayton, Kashmir, Rolando, Marcello, Braydon, Warner, Irving, Maverik, Yeshua, Leopold, Zaidyn, Kenton, Kaisyn, Lester, Jarvis, Ronaldo, Clifton, Buckley, Champion, Nirvaan, Larson, Laurence, Carmello, Fritz, Demarion, Renley, Graeson, Nymir

7 via 88

The letters in the following baby names add up to 88, which reduces to seven (8+8=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 88)Boy names (7 via 88)
Elizabeth, Penelope, Journee, Poppy, Sylvia, Madelynn, Jazlyn, Zariyah, Karsyn, Kassidy, Katelyn, Guadalupe, Winifred, Carolyn, Kassandra, Lindsey, Lilyanna, Hensley, Gisselle, Yazmin, Margarita, Maritza, Elliette, Dolores, Kaylyn, Ryver, Clarity, MarlenyAntonio, Francisco, Kashton, Jaxxon, Santos, Karsyn, Immanuel, Terrence, Gilberto, Vernon, Zephaniah, Osvaldo, Ryver, Vladimir, Brenton, Everardo, Tenzin, Crawford, Fulton, Knoxx, Daxtyn, Kayvon, Exodus, Pearson

7 via 97

The letters in the following baby names add up to 97, which reduces to seven (9+7=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 97)Boy names (7 via 97)
Victoria, Evelynn, Stephanie, Jacqueline, Kathryn, Itzayana, Emmalynn, Wrenly, Yvette, Story, Millicent, Josephina, Jenevieve, Arianelly, Irelynn, Emmanuella, KenzleighAnthony, Brantley, Valentin, Bronson, Kentrell, Tyrone, Jonathon, Johnpaul, Stephon, Yuvraj, Marshawn, Zamarion

7 via 106

The letters in the following baby names add up to 106, which reduces to seven (1+0+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 106)Boy names (7 via 106)
Waverly, Guinevere, Honesty, Anniston, Wilhelmina, Krystal, Ellowyn, Precious, Skarlett, Kaitlynn, YulissaRussell, Trenton, Westyn, Aurelius, Hendrixx, Miguelangel, Tayvion, Keyshawn

7 via 115

The letters in the following baby names add up to 115, which reduces to seven (1+1+5=7).

Girl names (7 via 115)Boy names (7 via 115)
Serenity, Trinity, Remington, Winslow, Everlynn, CharlestonRemington, Trayvon, Triston, Winslow, Charleston

7 via 124

The letters in the following baby names add up to 124, which reduces to seven (1+2+4=7).

Girl names (7 via 124)Boy names (7 via 124)
Gwynevere, Yatziry, Rozlynn, Symphonie, BrynlynnPrincetyn, Winchester, Harrington, Maxximus, Johnkerry

7 via 133

The letters in the following baby names add up to 133, which reduces to seven (1+3+3=7).

Girl names (7 via 133)Boy names (7 via 133)
Gwendolynn, Sunflower, Juwayriya, Sigourney, TonantzinTheophilus, Princeston, Stevenson, Rutherford, Treyshawn

Number 7: Significance and associations

What does the number seven mean in numerology?

There’s no definitive answer, unfortunately, because various numerological systems exist, and each one has its own interpretation of the number seven. That said, if we look at a couple of modern numerology/astrology websites, we see 7 being described as “truth-seeking,” “introspective,” “intellectual,” “reserved,” and “unusual.”

We can also look at associations, which are a bit more concrete. Here are some things that are associated with the number 7:

  • Rainbow (7 colors)
  • Continents
  • Week (7 days)
  • Major scale in music (7 notes)
  • Seven Wonders of the World
  • Pleiades (7 sister-nymphs of Greek mythology)
  • Classical planets (sun, moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn)
  • Metals of antiquity (gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron, mercury)

What does the number 7 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, three, four, five, six, eight, and nine.

Sources: SSA, Numerology – Cafe Astrology, The meaning of the numbers 1 – 9 – World Numerology, 7 – Wikipedia

[Latest update: Jan. 2024]

Pop culture baby name game results, 2016

Here are the results of Pop Culture Baby Name Game 2016!

As usual, the disclaimer: Some of the names below were already on the rise. Others may have been influenced by more than just the single pop culture person/event listed. I leave it up to you to judge the degree/nature of pop culture influence in each case.

On to the names…

Luna, +849

  • Up from 2,796 baby girls in 2015 to 3,645 in 2016.
  • 6th-highest raw-number increase on the girls’ list in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: celebrity baby Luna Simone, daughter of singer John Legend and model Chrissy Teigen.

Camila, +765

Greyson, +704

  • Up from 3,591 baby boys in 2015 to 4,295 in 2016.
  • 8th-highest raw-number increase on the boys’ list in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: celebrity baby Greyson Valor, son of reality TV star Jenni “JWoww” Farley.

Adonis, +443

Kehlani, +272

Wade, +232

  • Up from 553 baby boys in 2015 to 785 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Deadpool (2016).

Prince, +187

  • Up from 820 baby boys in 2015 to 1,007 in 2016.
  • The name Princess also saw a jump in usage: 268 baby girls in 2015 to 369 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of Prince.

Lyanna, +154

  • Up from 62 baby girls in 2015 to 216 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the TV show Game of Thrones.

Alessia, +130

Wilder, +122

  • Up from 215 baby boys in 2015 to 337 in 2016.
  • 9th-highest ranking increase on the boys’ list in 2016.
  • Wilder also saw higher usage among baby girls: 22 in 2015 to 38 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of Gene Wilder.

Canaan, +99

  • Up from 283 baby boys in 2015 to 382 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: son of Oprah Winfrey (she announced this name in late 2015).
    • According to a 2010 biography, Winfrey’s son’s legal first name was Vincent.

Cyrus, +91

  • Up from 631 baby boys in 2015 to 722 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the TV mini-series Roots (2016).

Creed, +78

Bowie, +77

  • Up from 53 baby boys in 2015 to 130 in 2016.
  • Bowie also saw higher usage among baby girls: 43 in 2015 to 75 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of David Bowie.

Muhammad, +77

  • Up from 881 baby boys in 2015 to 958 in 2016.
  • The name Muhammadali also saw a jump in usage: 12 baby boys in 2015 to 24 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of Muhammad Ali.

Ivanka, +74

  • Up from 37 baby girls in 2015 to 111 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Trump’s daughter Ivanka.

Cohen, +68

  • Up from 1,017 baby boys in 2015 to 1,085 in 2016.
  • Cohen also saw higher usage among baby girls: 12 in 2015 to 17 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of Leonard Cohen.

Queen, +49

  • Up from 148 baby girls in 2015 to 197 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influences: the TV show Queen Sugar (2016-) and the movie Queen of Katwe (2016).

Melania, +41

  • Up from 90 baby girls in 2015 to 131 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Trump’s wife Melania.

Moana, +38

  • Up from 18 baby girls in 2015 to 56 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Moana (2016).

Jupiter, +36

  • Up from 42 baby girls in 2015 to 78 in 2016.
  • Jupiter also saw higher usage among baby boys: 25 in 2015 to 41 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter.

Hillary, +34

  • Up from 137 baby girls in 2015 to 171 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Simone, +33

  • Up from 340 baby girls in 2015 to 373 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influences: Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and celebrity baby Luna Simone.

Doris, +32

  • Up from 85 baby girls in 2015 to 117 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Hello, My Name Is Doris (2016).

Dream, +30

  • Up from 98 baby _s in 2015 to 128 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Kardashian baby Dream Renée.

Rio, +29

  • Up from 103 baby boys in 2015 to 132 in 2016.
  • Rio also saw higher usage among baby girls: 38 in 2015 to 61 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Malachi, +27

  • Up from 2,558 baby boys in 2015 to 2,585 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the TV mini-series Roots (2016).

Ali, +23

  • Up from 1,060 baby boys in 2015 to 1,083 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the death of Muhammad Ali.

Barron, +20

  • Up from 74 baby boys in 2015 to 94 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Trump’s son Barron.

Miesha, +19

  • Up from 13 baby girls in 2015 to 32 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: MMA fighter Miesha Tate.

Onyx, +18

  • Up from 38 baby girls in 2015 to 56 in 2016.
  • Onyx saw an even higher jump in usage among baby boys: 118 in 2015 to 172 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: celebrity baby Onyx Solace, daughter of Alanis Morissette.

Francis, +17

  • Up from 619 baby boys in 2015 to 636 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Deadpool (2016).

Merrick, +17

  • Up from 191 baby boys in 2015 to 208 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Judge Merrick Garland.

Ajax, +16

  • Up from 17 baby boys in 2015 to 33 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Deadpool (2016).

Juno, +13

  • Up from 86 baby girls in 2015 to 99 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter.

Keanu, +13

  • Up from 197 baby boys in 2015 to 210 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Keanu (2016).

Halsey, re-entered with 12

  • After an absence, returned to the list with 12 baby girls in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: singer Halsey (born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane).

Valor, +12

  • Up from 78 baby boys in 2015 to 90 in 2016.
  • Valor also saw higher usage among baby girls: 6 in 2015 to 14 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: celebrity baby Greyson Valor, son of reality TV star Jenni “JWoww” Farley.

Hamilton, +11

  • Up from 86 baby boys in 2015 to 97 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the Broadway musical Hamilton.

Sanders, +11

  • Up from 12 baby boys in 2015 to 23 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Bernie, +10

  • Up from 11 baby boys in 2015 to 21 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Omran, +10

  • Up from 7 baby boys in 2015 to 17 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Syrian boy Omran Daqneesh.

Elle, +9

  • Up from 816 baby girls in 2015 to 825 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: singer Elle King.

Teresa, +9

  • Up from 426 baby girls in 2015 to 435 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: canonization of Mother Teresa.

Dak, re-entered with 8

  • After an absence, returned to the list with 8 baby boys in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: NFL player Rayne Dakota “Dak” Prescott.

Wrigley, +8

  • Up from 22 baby boys in 2015 to 30 in 2016.
  • Wrigley also saw higher usage among baby girls: 15 in 2015 to 18 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: Chicago Cubs’ World Series win.

Boomer, +7

  • Up from 5 baby boys in 2015 to 12 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: celebrity baby Boomer Robert, son of Michael Phelps.

Dory, re-entered with 6

  • After an absence, returned to the list with 6 baby girls in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Finding Dory (2016).

Maui, re-entered with 5

  • After an absence, returned to the list with 5 baby boys in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Moana (2016).

Wilson, +5

  • Up from 433 baby boys in 2015 to 438 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Deadpool (2016).

Sully, +4

  • Up from 17 baby boys in 2015 to 21 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: the movie Sully (2016).

Teyana, +3

  • Up from 47 baby girls in 2015 to 50 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: singer Teyana Taylor.

Draymond, +2

  • Up from 6 baby boys in 2015 to 8 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: NBA player Draymond Green.

Daya, +1

  • Up from 42 baby girls in 2015 to 43 in 2016.
  • Pop culture influence: singer Daya (born Grace Martine Tandon).

Names that went down in usage from 2015 to 2016:

Names not in the SSA data in either 2015 or 2016:

  • Angel Dust
  • Aroldis
  • Bison
  • Broncs
  • Cubby
  • Curiosity
  • Dopinder
  • Eleven
  • Emayatzy
  • E’myri
  • Esperanto
  • Hermine
  • Ingwen
  • Jikan
  • Jonbenet
  • Lorca
  • Kunta
  • Laremy
  • Linmanuel
  • Maga
  • MacGyver
  • Mountain
  • Moushumi
  • Ode
  • Phiona
  • Regé-Jean
  • Rykiel
  • Trump
  • Usain
  • Voltron
  • Zobrist

Some initial reactions…

I was surprised that Adonis and Wade jumped in usage as much as they did.

I was also surprised that Wrigley barely jumped at all in usage. Maybe “Wrigley” reminds too many people of gum?

Where the heck is Usain? Why is Usain not in the data yet? Sure, track and field is relatively unpopular in the United States. Still, I thought Rio might do it — with the help of that viral photo of Usain Bolt cheekily grinning at the competition in the middle of that 100 meter sprint.

Finally, as a former ’80s kid, I did have my fingers crossed for Voltron. Oh well…

How about you? Did any of these rises/falls surprise you?

P.S. Some of the names from the 2015 Pop Culture Baby Name Game that have started/continued to do well: Adaline, Arlo, Bjorn, Bryshere, Finn, Furiosa, Gigi, Hakeem, Jedi, Joy, Kylo, Lagertha, Lucious, Margot, Mars, Rey, Saint, and Sullivan. Even more interesting is Atticus, which saw a drop in usage in 2016 after rising steadily for years. (Here’s more about Atticus and the Go Set a Watchman debacle.) The usage of Becky decreased as well — could Beyoncé’s song “Sorry” have anything to do with it?