According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Corbin saw a discernible increase in popularity in 1998. Other spellings (like Korbin and Corban) saw similar increases, but none were as steep as that of Korben, which more than tripled in usage:
- 2000: 43 baby boys named Korben
- 1999: 31 baby boys named Korben
- 1998: 37 baby boys named Korben
- 1997: 11 baby boys named Korben
- 1996: 8 baby boys named Korben
What was influencing these names?
Korben Dallas, the main character of the “campy sci-fi extravaganza” The Fifth Element, which was released in theaters in May of 1997.
The movie was set in the 23rd century, and Korben (played by Bruce Willis) — who had recently retired from the elite Special Forces unit of the Federated Army — was now driving a a flying taxicab in New York City.
One day, an orange-haired woman wearing an outfit made of white bandages fell into Korben’s cab through the roof. (Leeloo, played by Milla Jovovich, had just jumped off the ledge of a building after escaping from a science lab.) This unlikely encounter led to Korben getting caught up in mission to save humanity from a “planet-sized sphere of supreme evil” that was swiftly approaching Earth.
The Fifth Element was the ninth-highest-grossing film of 1997, and went on to become a science-fiction cult classic. (The name Leeloo debuted in the U.S. baby name data about a decade after the movie came out.)
What are your thoughts on the baby name Korben? (Do you like it more or less than the traditional spelling, Corbin?)
Sources:
- The Fifth Element – Wikipedia
- Thomas, Kevin. “‘Element’: A Voyage as Fun, Stylish as It Is Confusing.” Los Angeles Times 9 May 1997.
- Maslin, Janet. “The Fifth Element” [Film review]. New York Times 9 May 1997.
- The Fifth Element – University of Leicester
- 1997 in film – Wikipedia
- SSA
Image: Screenshot of The Fifth Element
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