The baby name Delphine has an interesting popularity graph. Usage of the name peaked in the 1920s and it may have had a long, slow decline all the way to the end of the century…if not for a period of increased in usage from the late ’40s until the early ’60s.
Even more curious? A spike in the number babies named Delphine in 1958:
- 1960: 192 baby girls named Delphine
- 1959: 252 baby girls named Delphine
- 1958: 347 baby girls named Delphine
- 1957: 132 baby girls named Delphine
- 1956: 154 baby girls named Delphine
I’m not sure what caused the turnaround in the late ’40s (maybe Delphine Downing played a part?) and I’m also not sure what caused the spike.
Any ideas?
UPDATE: Commenter Becca figured out the spike. It was caused by the TV show Kitty Foyle, which aired on NBC during the first half of 1958. Thanks, Becca!