How popular is the baby name Jim 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 Jim.

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Popularity of the baby name Jim


Posts that mention the name Jim

Where did the baby name Corbett come from in 1892?

Boxer James Corbett (1866-1933)
James Corbett

One of the most impressive baby name debuts of the late 19th century was Corbett, which first popped up in the U.S. baby name data in 1892.

Corbett was the highest debut until 1898 rolled around with the names Manilla, Hobson, and Admiral — all inspired by the Spanish-American War.

According to the SSA’s data, at least 23 baby boys were named Corbett in 1892:

  • 1894: 20 baby boys named Corbett
  • 1893: 15 baby boys named Corbett
  • 1892: 23 baby boys named Corbett [debut]
  • 1891: unlisted
  • 1890: unlisted

But the actual number was much higher. The Social Security Death Index indicates that at least 59 people named Corbett were born in 1892:

  • 1894: 67 people named Corbett
  • 1893: 49 people named Corbett
  • 1892: 59 people named Corbett
  • 1891: 5 people named Corbett
  • 1890: 3 people named Corbett

So, what gave Corbett a boost that year?

Sports!

In September of 1892, boxer James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett defeated John L. Sullivan to win the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Even if he hadn’t won, the press leading up to the match would have popularized the name enough for it to make a splash. More than half of those baby Corbetts — 31 out of 59 — were born before the match even took place.

(That said, many babies born in those days were not named immediately after birth. So no doubt a portion of the early Corbetts were actually nameless until the day of the event.)

Usage of the name increased again in 1894, which is the year Corbett defended his title against boxer Charley Mitchell.

Jim Corbett ultimately lost the title in 1897, to Bob Fitzsimmons.

(Sullivan, Corbett and Fitzsimmons are the first three middle names of the girl with 25 heavyweight champion-inspired middle names.)

So what does the English surname Corbett mean? It can be traced back to a Norman French nickname meaning “little crow” or “raven.” The nickname was likely given to a person with a dark complexion or dark hair.

Do you like the name Corbett?

Sources:

Image of James J. Corbett from LOC

What turned Bimbo into a baby name in 1954?

The Rod Morris single "Bimbo" (1953)
“Bimbo” single

Would you name your son Bimbo?

I ask because Bimbo was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1954. Five baby boys got the name that year.

  • 1956: unlisted
  • 1955: unlisted
  • 1954: 5 baby boys named Bimbo [debut]
  • 1953: unlisted
  • 1952: unlisted

Cruel? Not necessarily.

These parents weren’t bestowing the name with the slang term in mind. (Bimbo, originally a variant of bambino, Italian for “baby,” had become a synonym for “floozie” back in the 1920s.) They’d heard it in a country song about a little boy called Bimbo. Here’s the first verse:

Bimbo is a little boy who’s got million friends
and every time he passes by, they all invite him in
He’ll clap his hands, sing and dance, and talk his baby talk
With a hole in pants, and his knees stickin’ out, he’s just big enough to walk

“Bimbo,” written circa 1953 by Rod Morris, was recorded in 1953-1954 by various performers including Gene Autry,* Ruby Wright, Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart, Eddy Howard, Lawrence Welk, Polly Possum, and Brucie Weil.

"Bimbo" advertisement

But the most successful rendition was performed by Jim Reeves, whose “Bimbo,” released in late 1953, peaked at #2 on the list of Best Selling Country & Western Records for three weeks from late January to early February, 1954.

[T]he song became wildly popular, especially with families who had children. “People were even naming their little boys ‘Bimbo,’ after the song,” [Jim’s wife] Mary said in astonishment.

Here’s a video featuring the Jim Reeves recording:

What do you think of the name Bimbo?

*This was a few years after Gene’s rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” inspired a handful of parents to name their sons Frosty.

Update, Aug. 2024: Bimbo is no longer in the U.S. baby name data! I’m not sure when the SSA made the adjustment, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it. There’s a chance the name could reappear in a future data release, though, so I will leave this post up for now.

Sources:

Second image: Clipping from Billboard magazine (6 Feb. 1954)

Where did the baby name Tanoa come from in 1961?

The character Tanoa from the TV western "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957-1962).
Tanoa from “Tales of Wells Fargo“

The baby name Tanoa has appeared in the U.S. baby name data just twice, both times in the early 1960s:

  • 1963: 5 baby girls named Tanoa
  • 1962: unlisted
  • 1961: 6 baby girls named Tanoa [debut]
  • 1960: unlisted
  • 1959: unlisted

Where did it come from?

The TV western Tales of Wells Fargo (1957-1962).

An hour-long episode that aired on Oct. 28, 1961, featured a female character named Tanoa (played by actress Patricia Michon). In fact, the episode itself was called “Tanoa.”

In the episode, main character Jim Hardie (who worked for Wells Fargo) and his assistant Beau McCloud negotiated a new stagecoach route with some local Native Americans. According to one synopsis (from contemporary TV listings), “Beau McCloud rescues an Indian girl and her little brother from a power-hungry war chief.”

Do you like the name Tanoa?

Sources:

Baby name story: Australia II John Bertrand Ben Lexcen

Winged keel of the Australia II racing yacht, winner of the 1983 America's Cup
Keel of the Australia II

On September 26, 1983, the longest winning streak in sports history — 132 years (!) — came to an end when the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s boat, the Australia II, defeated the New York Yacht Club’s boat, the Liberty, in the seventh and final race of the America’s Cup.

Right around the same time, Dianne and Jim Forbes of Melbourne, Australia, welcomed a baby boy. They named their son Charles Australia II John Bertrand Ben Lexcen Forbes — Australia II for the yacht, John Bertrand for its skipper, and Ben Lexcen for its designer.

Sources:

Image: Adapted from Winged Keel of Americas Cup Yacht Australia II by Ken Hodge under CC BY 2.0.