How popular is the baby name Kelvin 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 Kelvin.

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Popularity of the baby name Kelvin


Posts that mention the name Kelvin

Numerology: Baby names with a value of 1

Baby names with a numerological value of 1

If you’re on the hunt for baby names with a numerological value of 1, you’re in luck! Because today’s post features hundreds of 1-names.

Before we get to the names, though — how do we know that they’re “ones” 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 Taylor correspond to the numbers 20, 1, 25, 12, 15, and 18. The sum of these numbers is 91. The digits of 91 added together equal 10, and the digits of 10 added together equal 1 — the numerological value of Taylor.

Baby names with a value of 1

Below you’ll find the most popular 1-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.

1 via 10

The letters in the following baby names add up to 10, which reduces to one (1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 10)Boy name (1 via 10)
Eda, Dea, Ebba, Adda, AdeAde

1 via 19

The letters in the following baby names add up to 19, which reduces to one (1+9=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 19)Boy names (1 via 19)
Mae, Ema, Abbie, Alea, AelaAdam, Jace, Dan, Jed, Jah

1 via 28

The letters in the following baby names add up to 28, which reduces to one (2+8=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 28)Boy names (1 via 28)
Eva, Eden, Lana, Ari, Adalee, Dani, Andi, Nala, Vada, Aleia, Dina, Ira, Jael, Adalia, Ria, Ciana, FiadhAlan, Ari, Eden, Mack, Case, Ira, Ash, Jael, Deen, Adin, Cy, Om

1 via 37

The letters in the following baby names add up to 37, which reduces to one (3+7=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 37)Boy names (1 via 37)
Elena, Cora, Alina, Alani, Rebecca, Liana, Kate, Ariah, Faye, Amalia, Mina, India, Elsa, Leena, Kya, Elara, Isha, Aiza, Naila, Iman, Jaleah, Legaci, Nami, Anali, Shai, Alanah, Baker, Laina, Ilana, Ren, Jaya, Luca, Manha, Kobi, Adelaida, Aleen, Gabby, Aveah, BlimaLuca, Baker, Axl, Van, Coen, Shai, Jamal, Ren, Azai, Shia, Nick, Niam, Eiden, Amin, Ajay, Iman, Naim, Kobi, Brice, Enoc, Maceo, Alain, Buck, Abhay

1 via 46

The letters in the following baby names add up to 46, which reduces to one (4+6=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 46)Boy names (1 via 46)
Gianna, Zoe, Hannah, Maeve, Lucia, Reagan, Zara, Vera, Adaline, Daniela, Raegan, Aitana, Adelina, Azalea, Elisa, Ailani, Elaine, Imani, Edith, Dayana, Katie, Marie, Dior, Erin, Aileen, Sol, Iliana, Lacey, Salma, Araya, Etta, Aminah, Agnes, Colbie, Aarya, Noel, Ariela, Carina, Navi, Isela, Jamila, Cienna, Lenna, Lula, Melek, Arlo, Zena, Dove, Avalee, Sabina, Malena, Tate, Analiah, Ily, Lainee, Adleigh, Raelee, Azra, Kiya, Reva, Meira, Avni, Anvi, Orla, Randi, Cairo, FabiolaElias, Juan, Leon, Ivan, Arlo, Tate, Zane, Damien, Cairo, Erick, Cesar, Malik, Pablo, Noel, Blaze, Dior, Alfred, Damari, Mekhi, Decker, Bobby, Dereck, Link, Elon, Azaiah, Isael, Sol, Ender, Reagan, Isiah, Ammar, Jahir, Boyd, Jacobo, Sir, Ciaran, Lando, Hero, Demian, Devan, Asiel, Locke, Branch, Dandre, Jaheim, Neev, Pete, Ward, Emari, Jedediah, Deluca, Kayde, Imani, Navi, Esau, Rehan

1 via 55

The letters in the following baby names add up to 55, which reduces to one (5+5=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 55)Boy names (1 via 55)
Iris, Nevaeh, Hadley, Freya, Aspen, Camille, Joanna, Gabriela, Heaven, Mariam, Emerie, Leyla, Kyra, Sky, Monica, Zaria, Averi, Lexie, Kamilah, Neriah, Jewel, Zahara, Zoie, Zaira, Neveah, Azari, Asiya, Joey, Melania, Kapri, Linnea, Romi, Breanna, Lois, Aviva, Arlene, Maven, Samadhi, Marin, Cindy, Izabel, Maelani, Iylah, Lumi, Liora, Junia, Jayne, Miabella, Shira, Joella, Analaya, Grey, Kaiyah, Liyah, Nashla, LilliaJett, Edward, Jorge, Edwin, Grady, Conrad, Davis, Grey, Kellan, Joey, Vihaan, Imran, Aspen, Aizen, Danilo, Kody, Ralph, Malakhi, Krue, Kallen, Rogan, Ezio, Aariz, Sky, Azari, Holt, Miran, Armin, Edmond, Zaine, Maddix, Jaziah, Jaydan, Caelum, Mohamad, Josef, Namir, Haris, Jariel, Kadyn, Mikail, Blaize, Cloud, Kanon, Tafari, Amadou, Saleem

1 via 64

The letters in the following baby names add up to 64, which reduces to one (6+4=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 64)Boy names (1 via 64)
Emily, Piper, Tessa, Makayla, Sabrina, Frankie, Azariah, Arleth, Mavis, Miley, Mercy, Natasha, Emiliana, Zyla, True, Jubilee, Campbell, Moriah, Emmarie, Iyanna, Zion, Cirilla, Abrielle, Angely, Evalina, Lucinda, Lindy, Marbella, Carley, Loren, Chosen, Posie, Marlena, Cailyn, Yohana, Catalaya, Israel, MayteJaxon, Zion, Knox, Brody, Peter, Israel, Lukas, Ronald, Arjun, Roland, Azariah, Kyree, Yehuda, Avyaan, Titan, Chosen, Campbell, Frankie, Lucien, True, Avraham, Draven, Oskar, Anton, Barry, Arnold, Evren, Kaidyn, Levy, Zohan, Jaquan, Klaus, Vander, Arvin, Camron, Ryu, Kyair, Amadeus, Bryar, Lavon, Marcell, Safwan, Loren, Riggin, Jakoby, Nikita, Amenadiel, Bradyn, Bruin, Ayoub, Deontae, Kendric, Milano, Keyden

1 via 73

The letters in the following baby names add up to 73, which reduces to one (7+3=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 73)Boy names (1 via 73)
Kaylani, Brynn, Carolina, Calliope, Jazmin, Marleigh, Elliot, Baylor, Karter, Bexley, Egypt, Nataly, Kailany, Patience, Lesly, Yuri, Zinnia, Serafina, Elinor, Jurnee, Kayleen, Dottie, Rhylee, Devorah, Ridley, Lynlee, Roxana, Susie, Kyomi, Mirabella, Stacey, ZaylahJackson, Joseph, Ezekiel, Elliot, Nicolas, Karter, Sergio, Baylor, Colter, Sincere, Jayceon, Hezekiah, Alberto, Ambrose, Jiraiya, Kelvin, Gordon, Stone, Marlon, Dhruv, Josias, Bronx, Vaughn, Harris, Giannis, Gilbert, Clifford, Kyren, Tyree, Kymani, Uziel, Lazaro, Zavian, Yuri, Egypt, Ridley, Kairos, Xayden, Jaxsen, Devansh, Antwan, Antoni, Eythan, Cruze, Dmitri, Zuko, Saxon, Ripken, Vedansh, Astro, Kingdom, Tidus, Weldon

1 via 82

The letters in the following baby names add up to 82, which reduces to one (8+2=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 82)Boy names (1 via 82)
Allison, Julianna, Kamryn, Meredith, Wrenlee, Zhuri, Kaisley, Clarissa, Lizbeth, Arisbeth, Addyson, Kiyomi, Jersey, Kaelynn, Letty, Sunnie, Marlow, Blakelyn, Lillith, Perry, Kinzlee, Maverick, Arianny, Eowyn, Yasmeen, Charlize, Yasmina, Minerva, Harlowe, Karmyn, Zaliyah, Rosanna, Hendrix, Kynnedi, Maddilyn, Sonora, ReverieMaverick, Zachary, Hendrix, Phillip, Thaddeus, Mitchell, Kartier, Alfonso, Kamryn, Crosby, Dimitri, Kross, Shlomo, Perry, Kamarion, Quest, Jersey, Zenith, Jayvian, Marlow, Sholom, Yannis

1 via 91

The letters in the following baby names add up to 91, which reduces to one (9+1=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 91)Boy names (1 via 91)
Everleigh, Katherine, Taylor, Sawyer, Payton, Phoenix, Braelynn, Kensley, Liberty, Loretta, Angelique, Scottie, Lauryn, Julissa, Seraphina, Xochitl, Roxanne, Zeynep, Kynslee, Daenerys, Madyson, Yehudis, Taelynn, Mariajose, Lovely, Olympia, Kynleigh, Brexley, HudsynGiovanni, Sawyer, Phoenix, Matthias, Johnathan, Cassius, Taylor, Yousef, Agustin, Zymir, Payton, Uzziah, Hussain, Hudsyn, Rivers, Nestor, Zuriel, Kaiyzen, Leyton, Patricio, Siddharth, Witten, Llewyn, Scottie, Zyheir, Chozyn

1 via 100

The letters in the following baby names add up to 100, which reduces to one (1+0+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 100)Boy names (1 via 100)
Presley, Vivienne, Clementine, Brynleigh, Taytum, Austyn, Yaritza, Joselyn, Paulette, Jordynn, Temperance, Wednesday, Collyns, Henrietta, LillyannaMaximus, Ezequiel, Quentin, Presley, Zaxton, Everette, Shivansh, Yunus, Quinten, Ignatius, Austyn, Avyukt, Taytum, Heriberto

1 via 109

The letters in the following baby names add up to 109, which reduces to one (1+0+9=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 109)Boy names (1 via 109)
Sutton, Brittany, Raylynn, Zipporah, Sunshine, Hennessy, JoslynnKingston, Sutton, Westley, Rigoberto, Khristian, Tristin, Rayshawn

1 via 118

The letters in the following baby names add up to 118, which reduces to one (1+1+8=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 118)Boy names (1 via 118)
Rosalynn, Shaylynn, Westlyn, Sharlotte, KynzleyDemitrius, Anastasios, Barrington, Jatavious, Quinntin

1 via 127

The letters in the following baby names add up to 127, which reduces to one (1+2+7=10; 1+0=1).

Girl names (1 via 127)Boy names (1 via 127)
Quetzaly, Karrington, Lillyrose, Rosselyn, RoselynneStratton, Odysseus, Maksymilian, Muhammadumar, Chukwuebuka

Number 1: Significance and associations

What does the number one mean in numerology?

There’s no definitive answer, unfortunately, because various numerological systems exist, and each one has its own interpretation of the number one. That said, if we look at a couple of modern numerology/astrology websites, we see 1 being described as “leader,” “independent,” “determined,” “creative,” and “self-assured.”

We can also look at associations, which are a bit more concrete. Here are a few things that are associated with the number 1:

  • Unity
  • Uniqueness
  • First place (as in sports)
  • Unicorn
  • Monolith

I kept the list short because you can associate the number 1 with just about anything. It’s universal, you might say. (See what I did there?)

What does the number 1 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 two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine.

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

[Latest update: Jan. 2024]

Baby names that rose the fastest in the U.S data, 1881 to today (relative increase)

hot air balloons

Many years ago, I published a list of the top debut baby names. A few years after that, I posted a list of the top one-hit wonder baby names.

So today let’s check out another fun set of “top” names: the top rises. The names below are those that increased the most in usage, percentage-wise, from one year to the next according to the SSA data.

Here’s the format: Girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the percentages represent single-year jumps in usage. (For example, from 1880 to 1881, usage of the girl name Isa grew 240% and usage of the boy name Noble grew 333%.)

  • 1881: Isa, 240%; Noble, 333%
  • 1882: Clementine, 300%; Clarance, 300%
  • 1883: Malissa, 243%; Alf, 150%
  • 1884: Belva, 1,220%; Grover, 532%
  • 1885: Phebe, 220%; Bryant, 200%
  • 1886: Felicia, 180%; Thornton, 240%
  • 1887: Ossie, 240%; Aubrey, 240%
  • 1888: Bennie, 250%; Thurman, 414%
  • 1889: Diana, 233%; Grady, 267%
  • 1890: Easter, 238%; Isaiah, 215%
  • 1891: Lutie, 200%; Colonel, 217%
  • 1892: Lollie, 271%; Pierce, 340%
  • 1893: Annabell, 240%; Lindsay, 320%
  • 1894: Versie, 320%; Alvie, 233%
  • 1895: Glenn, 283%; Alma, 220%
  • 1896: Vernice, 217%; Hobart, 744%
  • 1897: Sigrid, 200%; Roswell, 183%
  • 1898: Manila, 1,386%; Dewey, 606%
  • 1899: Tula, 280%; Rogers, 220%
  • 1900: Rosia, 480%; Wilber, 417%
  • 1901: Dellie, 180%; Kermit, 183%
  • 1902: Lolita, 420%; Judge, 260%
  • 1903: Rafaela, 280%; Jordan, 250%
  • 1904: Amber, 314%; Adelbert, 260%
  • 1905: Orma, 300%; Armand, 222%
  • 1906: Ena, 456%; Sheldon, 240%
  • 1907: Lota & Tula, 240%; Quincy, 183%
  • 1908: Bernetta & Nila, 260%; Taft, 288%
  • 1909: Laverna & Nevada, 267%; Toney, 300%
  • 1910: Cleopatra, 240%; Arturo & Sammy, 283%
  • 1911: Maryellen, 280%; Vincenzo & Wyman, 320%
  • 1912: Marina, 420%; Woodrow, 1,423%
  • 1913: Carroll, 263%; Rosendo, 320%
  • 1914: Lucyle, 280%; Irvine, 333%
  • 1915: Zudora, 460%; Charlton, 320%
  • 1916: Aldena, 291%; Tatsuo, 850%
  • 1917: Liberty, 617%; Masami, 338%
  • 1918: Kazuko, 320%; Quentin, 567%
  • 1919: Verbie, 300%; Belvin, 360%
  • 1920: Marcene, 386%; Harding, 718%
  • 1921: Elwanda, 1,860%; Gareth, 560%
  • 1922: Carley, 320%; Colie, 340%
  • 1923: Eris, 1,313%; Coolidge, 820%
  • 1924: Janeth, 517%; Phyllis, 260%
  • 1925: Murlene & Normalee, 260%; Estell & Unknown, 214%
  • 1926: Ileana, 633%; Jarrell & Lenoard, 240%
  • 1927: Charmaine, 825%; Lindbergh, 867%
  • 1928: Jeannine, 1,147%; Hoover, 522%
  • 1929: Dorla, 800%; Davey, 889%
  • 1930: Arlayne, 317%; Derl, 1,060%
  • 1931: Marlene, 745%; Colbert, 280%
  • 1932: Harlene, 270%; Delano, 1,057%
  • 1933: Sharleen, 425%; Delano, 289%
  • 1934: Adriana, 283%; Kelvin, 360%
  • 1935: Norita, 1,171%; Darwyn, 458%
  • 1936: Shelba, 2,667%; Lonzie, 320%
  • 1937: Deanna, 2,009%; Tyrone, 788%
  • 1938: Danielle, 878%; Dion, 355%
  • 1939: Brenda, 308%; Hall, 280%

The SSA data isn’t perfect, but it does get a lot more accurate starting in the late 1930s, because “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data” (SSA). Now, back to the list…

  • 1940: Scarlett, 743%; Clemmie, 257%
  • 1941: Jerilyn, 1,250%; Rulon, 250%
  • 1942: Michal, 1,520%; Macarthur, 2,740%
  • 1943: Shaaron, 456%; Suzanne, 240%
  • 1944: Dorinda, 568%; Kennedy, 280%
  • 1945: Lauren, 709%; Dorian, 220%
  • 1946: Jacalyn, 740%; Cornel, 533%
  • 1947: Jolinda, 388%; Brock, 364%
  • 1948: Sharman, 275%; Kevan, 260%
  • 1949: Lorry, 360%; Hanson, 240%
  • 1950: Vallorie, 717%; Brion, 400%
  • 1951: Krystal, 588%; Denise, 350%
  • 1952: Pandora, 1,100%; Corby & Wilhelm, 240%
  • 1953: Angelique, 1,157%; Shane, 392%
  • 1954: Sheree, 756%; Dain, 360%
  • 1955: Sabrina, 711%; Davy, 509%
  • 1956: Venetia, 543%; Cheyenne, 680%
  • 1957: Tammy, 1,591%; Tammy, 467%
  • 1958: Keely, 1,100%; Bret, 680%
  • 1959: Torri, 411%; Efrem, 963%
  • 1960: Lisha, 1,096%; Stephon, 1,200%
  • 1961: Marisol, 481%; Parrish, 1,460%
  • 1962: Penne, 447%; Chance, 350%
  • 1963: Tamiko, 1,440%; Tal, 617%
  • 1964: Deneen, 7,191%; Temple, 420%
  • 1965: Fontella, 880%; Branden, 340%
  • 1966: Tabatha, 9,900%; Heath, 1,070%
  • 1967: Anisa, 1,600%; Garrison, 320%
  • 1968: Coretta, 2,485%; Dustin, 778%
  • 1969: Lalena, 640%; Jeromy, 514%
  • 1970: Shiloh, 540%; Jermaine, 3,320%
  • 1971: Ashli, 1,900%; Jermaine, 494%
  • 1972: Catina, 9,033%; Demond, 3,920%
  • 1973: Cicely, 1,827%; Caine, 780%
  • 1974: Nakia, 16,100%; Rashad, 1,100%
  • 1975: Rasheda, 988%; Jamaal, 688%
  • 1976: Rhiannon, 1,713%; Seneca, 1,429%
  • 1977: Shawntae, 686%; Lavar, 5,480%
  • 1978: Aja, 3,407%; Dequan, 988%
  • 1979: Renada, 780%; Yoel, 525%
  • 1980: Genese, 1,920%; Rayshaun, 440%
  • 1981: Krystle, 1,623%; Cavin, 833%
  • 1982: Jere, 1,000%; Colt, 1,620%
  • 1983: Ciji, 2,950%; Remington, 657%
  • 1984: Santana, 3,467%; Ryne, 424%
  • 1985: Kayleigh, 2,914%; Jaymes, 769%
  • 1986: Kyrie, 3,180%; Orry, 789%
  • 1987: Janay, 1,168%; Jareth, 400%
  • 1988: Whitley, 916%; Nico, 860%
  • 1989: Audriana, 3,467%; Alexande, 4,917%
  • 1990: Alannah, 1,583%; Tevin, 4,569%
  • 1991: Tanairi, 820%; Devante, 1,356%
  • 1992: Darian, 703%; Jalen, 3,980%
  • 1993: Coraima, 4,320%; Savon, 2,457%
  • 1994: Aaliyah, 6,495%; Romario, 1,940%
  • 1995: Iridian, 1,845%; Tristin, 747%
  • 1996: Alanis, 1,047%; Json, 880%
  • 1997: Yulisa, 2,729%, Ennis, 620%
  • 1998: Jazsmin, 960%; Denilson, 900%
  • 1999: Tionne, 1,100%; Sincere, 647%
  • 2000: Litzy, 1,189%; Elian, 2,413%
  • 2001: Nevaeh, 1,111%; Jaheim, 5,440%
  • 2002: Lashanti, 2,060%; Omarion, 8,260%
  • 2003: Azeneth, 1,913%; Andon, 2,200%
  • 2004: Betzaida, 1,233%; Jakwon, 1,260%
  • 2005: Mikalah, 1,906%; Talan, 2,130%
  • 2006: Bethzy; 2,636%; Dereon, 1,217%
  • 2007: Jaslene, 9,920%; Leonidas & Renner, 700%
  • 2008: Dayami, 3,464%; Barack, 940%
  • 2009: Baya, 1,020%; Dhani, 520%
  • 2010: Collins, 1,557%; Bentlee, 733%
  • 2011: Thaily, 1,400%; Neymar, 900%
  • 2012: Cataleya, 2,182%; Long, 740%
  • 2013: Daleyza, 1,055%; Jaiceon, 1,057%
  • 2014: Aranza, 1,297%; Jameis, 720%
  • 2015: Vail, 700%; Rhydian, 667%
  • 2016: Kehlani, 571%; Kylo, 580%
  • 2017: Westlynn, 600%; Oseias, 1,080%
  • 2018: Maleni, 950%; Atreus, 1,888%
  • 2019: Yalitza, 1,490%; Ermias, 3,360%

(Did you catch all the doubles? Tula, Delano, Tammy, Jermaine, and Davey/Davy.)

I’ve already written about some of the names above (click the links to see the posts) and I plan to write about many of the others. In the meanwhile, though, feel free to beat me to it! Leave a comment and let us know what popularized Dorla in 1929, or Dustin in 1968, or Talan in 2005…

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from Turkey-2036 by Dennis Jarvis under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Babies named for Instagram filters?

instagram, filters, baby names

I started posting on Instagram recently. Though I haven’t used the filters much, seeing them in the app reminded me of something: Babycenter.com claimed, back in late 2015, that Instagram filter names were influencing baby names. And the clickbaity claim was (of course) picked up by various media outlets: Time, People, Vanity Fair, US Weekly, TechCrunch, Mashable, etc.

But the BabyCenter.com folks weren’t basing their claims on any sort of real-life baby name usage data. They were apparently just making assumptions based on their own website metrics.

In any case…it’s now 2019, and we do have access to usage data for 2015 (not to mention 2016, and 2017). So let’s use this data to determine whether or not their claim is true.

I analyzed the data for 44 names in total: 43 from filters — most current, several retired — plus the name “Lux,” which technically refers to a photo enhancement tool, not a filter. Zeroing in on usage from 2010 (the year Instagram was launched) to 2017, I noticed that…

  • 28 filter names did not see higher usage as baby names:
    • 20 had no SSA data to work with (1977, Crema, Charmes, Clarendon, Dogpatch, Early Bird, Gingham, Ginza, Hefe, Inkwell, Lo-Fi, Mayfair, Nashville, Poprocket, Skyline, Slumber, Stinson, Sutro, Toaster, X-Pro II)
    • 6 saw a decrease in usage (Aden, Brannan, Brooklyn, Kelvin, Reyes, Sierra)
    • 2 saw little/no change in usage (Ludwig, Rise)
  • 16 filter names did see higher usage as baby names:

So which, if any, of the 16 names above increased in usage because of Instagram?

Some of them, like trendy Hudson and Willow, were already on the rise by 2010. So it’s hard to know if these names were influenced at all by recent pop culture, let alone the app specifically. (Though that Juno-jump does seem significant.)

Others are associated with more than just a filter. Vesper was a Bond Girl, for instance, and Juno was a movie. So, even if Instagram was a factor, it was one of several. (BabyCenter.com’s original write-up from 2015 doesn’t even acknowledge this, e.g., “The Instagram-inspired name Lux…”)

In terms of filters actually influencing names, I think the strongest case can be made for Amaro. It wasn’t already on the rise in 2010, it did become more popular in the Instagram era, and the filter itself (as opposed to the Italian liqueur after which the filter was named) does seem to be the primary pop culture association these days.

On the other hand, Clarendon — despite being the first filter you see inside the app and, accordingly, the most-used filter overall — saw no corresponding uptick in usage on birth certificates, which is telling. (Though perhaps “Amaro” hits a stylistic sweet spot that “Clarendon” misses.)

My verdict? I’d say it’s possible that a handful of Instagram filters influenced real-life baby name usage…but I definitely wouldn’t declare that naming babies after filters was/is some sort of “hot trend,” as BabyCenter.com did.

What are your thoughts on all this? Have you ever met a baby named after an Instagram filter?

Sources: Hottest baby name trends of 2015, Photoshop Actions for Instagram’s “Lost” filters, Five New Filters – Instagram, Instagram adds new Lark, Reyes, and Juno filters, Instagram Introduces New Filter, The 10 Most Used Instagram Filters, Study: The most popular Instagram filters from around the world

Name quotes #60

double quotation mark

From the 2018 essay Forgetting the Madeleine, written by pastry chef Frances Leech:

In reality, I was named for two grandmothers: Jenny Frances and Lucy Madeleine. However, when I introduce myself at baking classes, I lie.

“My parents named me after the most famous pastry in French literature.”

It is a good name for a pâtissier, a pastry chef, and a good story to tell. The mnemonic sticks in my students’ minds, and after three hours and four cakes made together, they remember me as Madeleine and not Frances. Stories make for powerful anchors, even when the truth is twisted for dramatic effect.

From a 2018 Atlas Obscura article about chef Auguste Escoffier, who named his dishes after the rich and famous:

Escoffier came up with thousands of new recipes, many of which he served at London’s Savoy Hotel and the Paris Ritz. Some were genuine leaps of ingenuity, others a twist on a classic French dish. Many carry someone else’s name. In early dishes, these are often historical greats: Oeufs Rossini, for the composer; Consommé Zola, for the writer; Omelette Agnès Sorel, for the mistress of Charles VII. Later on, however, Escoffier made a habit of giving dishes the handles of people who, in their day, were virtual household names: An entire choir of opera singers’ names are to be found in Escoffier’s cookery books. The most famous examples are likely Melba toast and Peach Melba, for the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba, though there are hundreds of others.

From an article about a Swedish woman who changed her son’s name because of a botched tattoo:

Local newspaper, Blekinge Läns Tidning, reported that 30-year-old Johanna Giselhäll Sandström had requested a tattoo of her children’s names, Nova and Kevin.

The tattoo artist didn’t ask the woman to check the spelling, which resulted in a tattoo that read: ‘Nova and Kelvin’.

[…]

After discovering the process of removing tattoos isn’t an easy one, Sandström began to realise the name was growing on her, so she opted for a less painful solution to the problem.

“We decided to rename the boy,” she said.

From an article about a girl named after Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:

When Renee Cupp became pregnant with her daughter, she toyed around with a few names. For a while, Lily was the front runner, until she and her husband had the idea to name their second child after their favorite chocolate and peanut butter candy. So, eight years ago, the couple printed the name Reese Eve Cupp on their daughter’s birth certificate.

Although the correct pronunciation of the candy is “Rees-IS,” Cupp tells PEOPLE that she has always pronounced it “Rees-EES,” which is a common inflection of the popular chocolate brand, thus the addition of her daughter’s middle initial.

[Little Reese E. Cupp won the company’s $10,000 fan contest a few weeks after this post went up. Not only that, but, “as a tribute to the most outrageous fan’s family, Reese’s will proclaim today [June 14, 2018] ‘Reese E. Cupp Day,’ and even pronounce the product Reese-EE for one day only.”]

From a 2018 interview with entrepreneur Eden Blackman in The Telegraph:

For many entrepreneurs, starting a business often feels like bringing new life into the world. It’s not every day though, that your endeavours result in a baby named in your honour.

“That’s the pinnacle for me, it’s simply mind-blowing,” says Eden Blackman, founder of online dating business Would Like to Meet and namesake of young Eden, whose parents met on the site several years ago. “That is amazing and quite a lot to take on but it’s a beautiful thing.”

From an article about UC Berkeley student (and mom) Natalie Ruiz:

Doe Library’s North Reading Room became Ruiz’s haven. “It was one of the few quiet places where I felt I could focus,” she says. “That season of my life was extremely dark; I didn’t know if I’d make it to graduation, or how I could possibly raise a baby at this time.”

One day at the library, she noticed light shining down on her growing belly, right over the university seal on her T-shirt and the words “fiat lux.” She and Blanchard had considered Lillian or Clara as baby names, but now the choice was made.

“I felt my daughter kick, and it occurred to me that clara in Spanish means ‘bright,’ and I imagined the way that this baby could and would be the bright light at the end of this dark season,” says Ruiz, who gave birth to Clara on May 15, 2014.

Want to see more quotes about names? Check out the name quotes category.

[Latest update: Nov. 2023]