How popular is the baby name Jayz 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 Jayz.

The graph will take a few moments to load. (Don't worry, it shouldn't take 9 months!) If it's taking too long, try reloading the page.


Popularity of the baby name Jayz


Posts that mention the name Jayz

Baby name predictions for 2017?

beyonce, album

The year is more than half over. Based on what we’ve seen in pop culture so far, which baby names do you expect to make significant gains on the charts in 2017?

Here are some possibilities…

  • Rumi and Sir (and maybe even “Sir Carter”) – the names of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s twins, born in mid-June. The names weren’t officially announced until mid-July via Instagram.
  • Bea and Shawn – the rumored names of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s twins. These were widely circulated before the real names were revealed.
  • Antiope and Gal – both associated with the movie Wonder Woman, released in June. The main character is played by Gal Gadot, and Antiope (WW’s aunt) is played by Robin Wright.
  • Callum – from the video game-based movie Assassin’s Creed, released in late 2016.
  • Jyn – from the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, released in late 2016 (hat tip: Screen Crush).
  • Zelle – from Zelle, the peer-to-peer payment app backed by dozens of U.S. banks that was announced/released in June.

Do you agree with these? Disagree? Which names would you add to this list?

The baby name Pharrell: Trendy again?

The Pharrell Williams single "Happy" (2013).
Pharrell single

Pharrell Williams had been a successful producer (as part of The Neptunes) since the mid-1990s, working with Jay Z, Britney Spears, Nelly, Justin Timberlake, Kelis, and others.

But he didn’t start getting attention as a solo artist until 2003. That’s when when he released the single “Frontin’,” which peaked at #5 on the Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in September. (Crazily enough, 2003 was also the year that 43% of songs played on U.S. radio were produced by The Neptunes.)

The same year, the baby name Pharrell debuted impressively in the SSA’s baby name data:

  • 2013: 16 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2012: 10 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2011: 14 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2010: 18 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2009: 16 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2008: 19 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2007: 16 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2006: 37 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2005: 31 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2004: 44 baby boys named Pharrell
  • 2003: 67 baby boys named Pharrell [debut]
  • 2002: unlisted

Not only was the name Pharrell the top debut name of 2003, but it was also the 21st most popular debut name of all time on the boys’ list. (Variant Pharell had debuted the previous year.)

And Pharrell Williams — who has a dad named Pharaoh and a son named Rocket, incidentally — has been on the scene ever since. But 2013 and 2014 were particularly big years for him, with the success of the songs “Blurred Lines” and “Happy,” and his new gig as a judge on The Voice.

Usage of the name cooled off after 2003, but there was a slight increase in 2013. Do you think Williams’ ongoing exposure will boost the name even higher in 2014?

Source: Frontin’ – Wikipedia, Like the song? These guys wrote it

Will D’Ussé become a baby name?

Jay-Z and D'Usse

Here’s one more for the predictions list.

D’Ussé [doo-SAY] is a cognac that was introduced by Bacardi Limited in mid-2012.

But I didn’t hear about it (and I’ll bet a lot of other people didn’t hear about it) until Jay Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail (2013) came out in early July. D’Ussé is mentioned three times on the album, in the songs “F.U.T.W.,” “Part II (On the Run),” and “BBC.”

Since then — now that I’m looking — I’ve noticed that Jay Z has hosted various D’Ussé launch parties, is being featured in a D’Ussé advertising campaign, and even drank D’Ussé from a Grammy back in February.

Now, I know endorsement deals between celebs and brands are nothing new, and that few of them inspire the creation of brand new baby names.

But Jay Z is extremely popular, and the French word “D’Ussé” has a rather pleasant sound, so I wonder…will this particular pairing put D’Ussé on the map as a baby name in 2013?

After all, Jay Z was one of the celebs who helped popularize the name Alize 20 years ago (back when he still had his hyphen).

What do you think?

Pop culture baby name game, 2012

Britney Spears album

Happy Birthday, Britney Spears!

And you guys know what happens every year on Brit’s birthday…we kick off the annual Pop Culture Baby Name Game!

Which baby names have become more popular in 2012, thanks to popular culture?

We won’t have definitive answers until the SSA releases its next batch of data (in mid-2013). But 2012 is almost over, so we have all the information we need to start making guesses.

Some possibilities I’ve already blogged about:

Plus a few I forgot to blog about:

  • Blue, Ivy – Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy, born way back in January. (Only 7 girls and 11 boys were named Blue in 2011. I have a feeling both of these numbers will be going up.)
  • Maxwell (for a girl) – Jessica Simpson’s daughter Maxwell, born in May.
  • Mitt, Romney – Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney

Want to play? Leave a comment with your name predictions and the pop culture event(s) you think gave those names a boost this year.

UPDATE, May 2013: Here are the results!