How popular is the baby name Jennifer 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 Jennifer.

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Popularity of the baby name Jennifer


Posts that mention the name Jennifer

Older siblings vote for baby’s name

In early 1965, Marius and Anne Spada of Towaco, New Jersey, welcomed a baby boy — their 16th child. They didn’t give him a name, though. They had their older children vote on his name, pursuant to family tradition.

Of the 15 older children, 13 took part in the election. They were Anselm (19), Marie (18), Lucille (16), James (15), Jennifer (14), Victoria (13), twins Larry and Laurie (12), Patrick (9), Nicholas (8), Annette (7), Teresa (5) and Christopher (4). The two not taking part were Joseph (17) and Marius Jr. (2). Joseph was away on Army duty, and Marius Jr. was considered too young.

The parents had no say in the balloting. “We leave it entirely up to them,” Marius Sr. (44) told the papers. “I used to be able to sway the election, but I guess I’m too old now politically to carry much weight.”

The winning name was Dominick, with 11 votes. Marius Sr. explained that the name was inspired by “a priest, Father Dominick, who’s a friend of the family.” Runners-up were John and Anthony, with 1 vote each.

Source: “‘Decision of Lifetime’ Made by Youngsters.” Spokane Daily Chronicle 20 Jan. 1965: 27.

Where did the baby name Jareth come from in 1986?

The character Jareth from the movie "Labyrinth" (1986).
Jareth from “Labyrinth“

The curious name Jareth first popped up in the U.S. baby name data in 1986:

  • 1988: 51 baby boys named Jareth
  • 1987: 50 baby boys named Jareth
  • 1986: 10 baby boys named Jareth [debut]
  • 1985: unlisted
  • 1984: unlisted

What put it there?

Jim Henson’s goblin-filled musical fantasy film Labyrinth (1986).

The movie’s main character was a teenage girl named Sarah (played by Jennifer Connelly). While babysitting her cranky baby brother Toby, she “teasingly wishe[d] the goblins would take him away.” The problem? Her wish came true.

Jareth the Goblin King (played by David Bowie) explained to Sarah that the baby was now in his castle, which was at the center of a massive, otherworldly labyrinth. She could have her brother back…but only if she could find her way to the castle.

“You have 13 hours in which to solve the labyrinth before your baby brother becomes one of us forever.”

I don’t know which of the Labyrinth‘s creators (Jim Henson? Brian Froud? Terry Jones?) came up with the name Jareth, or how it was coined. Perhaps it was based on the Welsh name Gareth, or on the Biblical name Jared. (Or both?)

What are your thoughts on the name Jareth?

Source: Labyrinth movie review & film summary (1986) | Roger Ebert

Celebrity baby name: Agnes Lark

Actors Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany recently welcomed a baby girl. Her name is Agnes Lark. (Older brothers are Kai and Stellan.)

I don’t write about celebrity baby names much anymore, but I couldn’t ignore this one because I’ve got a soft spot for the name Agnes. I also like Lark. Comments I’ve seen online, though, have not been so positive about the name.

What are your thoughts?

Source: Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany welcome baby girl

Baby (almost) named after 20 soccer players

In late 1982, Trevor George of Penarth, Wales, registered his newborn daughter’s name as Jennifer Edson Arantes do Nascimento Jairzinho Rivelino Carlos-Alberto Paulo-Cesar Brietnar Cruyff Greaves Charlton Best Moore Ball Keegan Banks Gray Francis Brooking Curtis Toshack Law George. (Between Jennifer and George are the names of 20 of the world’s greatest soccer players.)

When his wife Lynette found out, she “sat down and cried, then went home to her mother and eventually had the child’s name changed to something more conventional” — Jennifer Anne George.

This was Trevor’s response:

I’m more angry about her changing the names than her leaving. She can stay where she is if that’s what she’s going to do.

I am very curious to know what became of this couple.

Related: The baby named after 25 heavyweight boxers several years ago.

Source: “You Can Call Her Jenny, Or…Or.” Telegraph-Herald [Dubuque, Iowa] 17 Dec. 1982: 15.