How popular is the baby name Lionel 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 Lionel.

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Popularity of the baby name Lionel


Posts that mention the name Lionel

What gave the baby name Jamelle a boost in the mid-1980s?

Jamelle Holieway (Sooners Illustrated, Nov. 1987)
Jamelle Holieway

According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Jamelle saw elevated usage for several years during the 1980s:

  • 1989: 34 baby boys named Jamelle
  • 1988: 93 baby boys named Jamelle
  • 1987: 89 baby boys named Jamelle
  • 1986: 74 baby boys named Jamelle
  • 1985: 22 baby boys named Jamelle

What was influencing this name?

College football player Jamelle Holieway, who, in early 1986, became the first true freshman quarterback to win a national championship.

In October of 1985, during his first year at the University of Oklahoma, Holieway took over for starting QB Troy Aikman (who’d broken his ankle during the fourth game of the season). The Sooners went on to achieve an overall record of 11-1 (following their Orange Bowl win against Penn State on New Year’s Day) and place first in the NCAA rankings.

The Holieway-led Sooners also went 11-1 in 1986 and 1987, placing third in the NCAA rankings both years.

Holieway wasn’t able to continue playing at the same level during his senior year, however, due to having torn his ACL during the ninth game of the previous season.

What are your thoughts on the name Jamelle?

P.S. One of the 1987 babies named Jamelle was Holieway’s own son, Jamelle Lionel, born in December.

P.P.S. In 2019, Clemson University’s Trevor Lawrence became the only other true freshman quarterback (so far) to win a national championship.

Sources:

Image: Clipping from the cover of Sooners Illustrated (14 Nov. 1987)

Baby names with ONE: Onella, Lionel, Boone

one

Are you a name-seeker on the hunt for “the one”?

Have you considered baby names that contain the word ONE? :)

Below you’ll find a long list of names that contain the letter sequence “o-n-e.” Most of these names come directly from the U.S. SSA’s baby name data.

  • Aaronette
  • Adones
  • Aidoneus
  • Alphones
  • Anemone
  • Anjonette
  • Anousone
  • Anthone
  • Anthonette
  • Anthoney, Anthonee
  • Antigone
  • Antione
  • Antionette, Antionett, Anntionette, Anntonette
  • Antone
  • Antonea
  • Antonella, Antonela
  • Antonello
  • Antoneo
  • Antonese
  • Antonesha
  • Antonetta
  • Antonette, Antonett
  • Antoney
  • Antoneyo
  • Antrone
  • Antwone, Antwione
  • Antwonette
  • Arione
  • Arlone
  • Armone
  • Armonee
  • Audrone
  • Avione
  • Avonelle, Avonell, Avonel
  • Bloneva
  • Boneita
  • Bonell
  • Bonetta, Boneta
  • Boneva
  • Boney
  • Boone
  • Brione
  • Capone
  • Cemone
  • Cerrone, Cerone
  • Chavone
  • Cherone
  • Chione
  • Ciboney
  • Cimone, Cymone
  • Cleone
  • Colonel
  • Conelia
  • Conell
  • Coner
  • Conesha
  • Coney
  • Corleone
  • Damione
  • Damone
  • Dashone
  • Davione
  • Davone
  • Deione
  • Delone
  • Demone
  • Deone
  • Derone
  • Derrione
  • Deshone
  • Desmone
  • Devone
  • Devoney, Devonee
  • Diamone
  • Diavione
  • Dione
  • Dionel
  • Doneen, Donene
  • Doneisha
  • Doneka
  • Donel, Donell
  • Doneld
  • Donelda
  • Donella
  • Donelle
  • Donese
  • Donesha
  • Doneshia
  • Donesia, Donecia
  • Donetta, Doneta
  • Donette
  • Doneva
  • Donevan, Donevin
  • Doney
  • Dymone
  • Ebone
  • Eboney, Ebonee
  • Emone
  • Emonee, Emonei
  • Evone, Eyvone
  • Falone
  • Fashionette
  • Froney
  • Gerone
  • Gladstone
  • Guarionex
  • Harmone
  • Harmonee, Harmonei
  • Hermione
  • Honest
  • Honesty, Honestie, Honesti, Honestii
  • Honey
  • Idonea
  • Indonesia
  • Ione, Iyone
  • Ironesha
  • Ivone
  • Jacione
  • Jamone
  • Jarone
  • Jasmone
  • Javione
  • Javone
  • Jermone
  • Jerone
  • Jone
  • Jonea
  • Joneen, Jonene
  • Joneisha
  • Joneka
  • Jonella
  • Jonelle, Jonell, Jonel
  • Jonerik, Joneric
  • Jones
  • Jonesha
  • Joneshia
  • Jonessa
  • Jonesy
  • Jonet
  • Jonetta
  • Jonette
  • Joney, Jonee
  • Jovone
  • Kapone
  • Kavone
  • Kemone
  • Keone
  • Kevone
  • Keyone
  • Kione, Khione
  • Kleone
  • Koner
  • Konesha
  • Koneta
  • Kotone
  • Kyrone
  • Laione
  • Lamone
  • Larone
  • Lashone, Lachone
  • Latrone
  • Lavone
  • Leone
  • Leonel, Leonell
  • Leonella, Leonela
  • Leoner
  • Leonetta
  • Leonette
  • Lerone
  • Levone
  • Lionel, Lionell, Lyonel
  • Lone
  • Lonell
  • Lones
  • Lonetta, Loneta
  • Lonette
  • Loney
  • Looney
  • Malone
  • Marionette
  • Marlone
  • Meloney, Melonee, Melloney
  • Michone
  • Mignonette
  • Mone
  • Monea
  • Moneca, Moneka
  • Monecia
  • Monee
  • Moneeb
  • Moneeka
  • Moneer
  • Monekia
  • Monelle, Monell
  • Moneque, Moneke, Moneek, Moneak, Moneik
  • Monesha
  • Moneshia
  • Monet
  • Monetta, Moneta
  • Monette
  • Money
  • Monez
  • Moonee
  • Natrone
  • Ngone
  • Oenone
  • Oneatha
  • Oneda
  • Onedia
  • Oneeda
  • Oneida
  • Oneika
  • Oneil, Oneal, Oneill
  • Oneisha
  • Oneita
  • Oneka
  • Onekki
  • Onelia
  • Onell, Onel
  • Onella
  • Onesimo, Onecimo
  • Onesimus
  • Onesty, Onesti
  • Oneta, Onetta
  • Onetha
  • Onetia
  • Oneva
  • Oney
  • Oneyda
  • Onezia
  • Persephone
  • Petronella
  • Phonesavanh
  • Ramone
  • Rashone
  • Raymone
  • Rayshone
  • Rayvone
  • Remone
  • Romone
  • Rone, Rhone
  • Ronee
  • Roneisha
  • Roneka
  • Ronekia
  • Ronel
  • Ronelda
  • Ronella, Ronell
  • Ronelle
  • Ronen
  • Ronesha, Rhonesha
  • Roneshia
  • Ronesia, Ronecia
  • Ronessa
  • Ronetta
  • Ronette
  • Roney
  • Rooney
  • Salone
  • Samone
  • Savone
  • Semone
  • Shalone
  • Shamone
  • Shannone
  • Sharone, Sharrone
  • Sharonette
  • Shavone
  • Sherone, Sherrone
  • Shevone
  • Shone
  • Shoneen
  • Shonell
  • Shonetta
  • Shonette, Shonett
  • Shoney
  • Shyrone
  • Siboney
  • Simone, Simmone, Symone
  • Simonetta
  • Simonette
  • Sione
  • Slone
  • Solomone
  • Sone
  • Sonequa
  • Sooner
  • Stallone
  • Stephone, Stefone
  • Stone
  • Stonewall
  • Stoney
  • Tarone
  • Tavone
  • Terone
  • Theone
  • Therone
  • Thyrone
  • Timone
  • Tione
  • Tionee
  • Tirone
  • Tone
  • Tonea
  • Tonee
  • Toneesha
  • Toneisha
  • Toneka
  • Tonesha
  • Toneshia
  • Tonesia
  • Tonetta
  • Tonette
  • Toney
  • Tramone
  • Travone
  • Tremone
  • Trevione
  • Treyvone
  • Trone
  • Tylone
  • Tyone
  • Tyrone
  • Tyshone
  • Tyvone
  • Vashone
  • Verone
  • Vione
  • Vionette
  • Voneda
  • Vonell
  • Vonessa
  • Vonetta, Voneta
  • Vonette
  • Yone
  • Yoneko
  • Yonel
  • Yoneo
  • Yvone
  • Zione

Several of the above are non-traditional spellings of more common names such as Antoine, Donald, Melanie, and Yvonne.

Of all the ONE names above, which one do you like most? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. You might also want to check out names with a numerological value of 1, or names starting with the letter I, as the Roman numeral I (“unus” in Latin) has a value of 1. Here are long lists of girl names and boy names starting with I.

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from One (6086756594) by Tony Hisgett under CC BY 2.0.

Where did the baby name Jheri come from in the 1980s?

Michael Jackson's Jheri curl hairstyle on the cover of the 1982 album "Thriller"
Michael Jackson’s Jheri curl

The Jerry-like name Jheri appeared regularly in the U.S. baby name data from 1980 until the mid-1990s:

  • 1996: unlisted
  • 1995: 7 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1994: 11 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1993: 10 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1992: 8 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1991: 12 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1990 9 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1989: 8 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1988 10 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1987 12 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1986: 9 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1985: 13 baby girls named Jheri (peak usage)
  • 1984: 8 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1982: 12 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1981: 8 baby girls named Jheri
  • 1980: 6 baby girls named Jheri (debut)
  • 1979: unlisted

Why?

Because of the Jheri curl, a hairstyle featuring loose, glossy curls that was trendy among African-Americans primarily during the 1980s. Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Rick James, and other famous men and women of the era sported Jheri-curled hair.

Where did the style come from?

The “curl” originated with hairdresser/entrepreneur Jheri Redding, who developed a chemical process to make straight hair curly. Salons started offering the Jheri Kurl (as it was often spelled in advertisements) in the early 1970s.

Then, African-American hairdresser/entrepreneur Willie Lee Morrow adapted the process for African-American hair. His two-step method involved straightening the hair before adding a looser curl. (He also introduced “curl activator” to add moisture to the style.) Salons began offering Morrow’s California Curl in the late 1970s.

Some salons, in fact, offered both perms:

Newspaper advertisement for California Curl and Jheri Kurl (Feb. 1979)
(Feb. 1979)

Finally, African-American entrepreneur Comer Cottrell made Morrow’s perm both less expensive and more widely available by developing the do-it-yourself Curly Kit.

His kits were advertised heavily in Jet magazine throughout 1980:

Magazine advertisement for Curly Kit (Aug. 1980)
(Aug. 1980)

In mid-1981, Forbes magazine declared the Curly Kit “the biggest single product ever to hit the black cosmetics market.” Numerous copycat kits (with names like Classy Curl, S-Curl, and Super Curl) soon followed.

Despite the crucial contributions of Morrow and Cottrell, though, it was Jheri Reddings’s distinctive first name — associated with the curl since the start — that became the generic term for the style.

So, where did “Jheri” come from?

Redding coined it himself.

He was born Robert William Redding on a farm in Illinois in 1907. He became a licensed cosmetologist after noticing, during the Depression, that hairdressers were still being paid well.

Redding was an innovative marketer — he introduced the concept of “pH balanced” shampoos, for instance — and he created the eye-catching name for himself at some point before 1950, because he’s listed as “Jheri R Redding” on the 1950 U.S. Census:

Jheri Redding on 1950 U.S. Census

He launched his first company, Jheri Redding Products, six years later.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Jheri?

Sources:

  • Johnston, David Cay. “Jheri Redding Is Dead at 91; A Hair Products Entrepreneur.” New York Times 21 Mar. 1998: A-13.
  • Folkart, Burt A. “Jheri Redding; Beauty Products Pioneer.” Los Angeles Times 18 Mar. 1998.
  • Mack, Toni. “Caution + Daring = 82% Returns.” Forbes 8 Jun. 1981: 101-103.
  • Byrd, Ayana and Lori Tharps. Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2002.
  • Ford, Tanisha C. Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion. NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2019.
  • Moore, Jennifer Grayer. Fashion Fads Through American History: Fitting Clothes Into Context. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2015.
  • SSA

Images: Clipping from Chula Vista Star-News (25 Feb. 1979); clipping from Jet magazine (14 Aug. 1980); clipping of the 1950 U.S. Census

Popular baby names in Liechtenstein, 2021

Flag of Liechtenstein
Flag of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, one of the smallest countries in Europe, is located in the Alps (sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland).

Last year, Liechtenstein welcomed 375 babies — 181 girls and 194 boys.

What were the most popular names among these babies? Emilia/Frida/Mia (3-way tie) and Elias.

Here are Liechtenstein’s top girl names and top boy names of 2021:

Girl Names

  1. Emilia, Frida/Frieda, and Mia, 4 baby girls each (3-way tie)
  2. Emma, Melina, and Sophia/Sofia, 3 each (3-way tie)
  3. Alicia, Alina, Anna, Aria, Ariana/Arianna, Aurora, Chiara, Elea, Elin, Emily, Hannah, Helena, Jana, Ladina, Leonie, Lina, Mara, Maria, Milena, Mina, and Noelia, 2 each (21-way tie)

Boy Names

  1. Elias/Elyas, 7 baby boys
  2. Louis/Luis, 6
  3. Leo, 5
  4. Noah and Paul, 4 each (tie)
  5. Leano, Luca, Mattia, Nelio, Raphael/Rafael, and Valentin, 3 each (6-way tie)
  6. Benedict/Benedikt, Benjamin, Eliah/Elijah, Eric/Erik, Gion, James, Janik, Julian, Lenny, Levin, Lionel, Lucas/Lukas, Mael, Matteo, Maximilian, Nicklas/Niklas, Oliver, and Ömer, 2 each (18-way tie)

The rest of the names were bestowed just once:

Unique girl names (118)Unique boy names (114)
Ada, Adora, Aflah, Aida, Aileen, Akila, Alessia, Alexandra, Alia, Alizée, Alma, Amalia, Ambra, Amela, Amélie, Amina, Amra, Ana, Aniko, Anila, Anina, Annika, Antonia, Asalia, Ava, Aynara, Calissa, Carla, Carmen, Catalina, Cecilia, Céline, Charlotte, Clea, Darja, Désirée, Diana, Diona, Dorothea, Dua-Lea, Ela, Elena, Elenia, Eleonora, Elif, Elina, Eline, Elise, Ena, Evi, Finja, Gabriella, Gea, Grace, Hailey, Haley, Hava, Heidi, Hindiya, Hylkije, Ina, Jara, Johanna, Josepa, Josephine, Julia, Juliana, Juna, Künkyi, Lailah, Lanah, Lara, Lea, Leila, Lelle, Lena, Leni, Lia, Liara, Lillia, Lily, Lorena, Lounah, Luisa, Malea, Marie, Maya, Mayte, Medina, Mejra, Melissa, Meryem, Mila, Mirella, Mona, Nadine, Naima, Nayla, Nevia, Niva, Nóra, Nurcan, Patrizia, Romina, Ronja, Rosa, Ruby, Sarah, Saskia, Serena, Siena, Svea, Theresia, Yara, Ylvie, Zana, Zeyneb, ZoeAaron, Adrian, Ajan, Akira, Alessio, Alexis, Ali, Alparslan, Alvaro, Ammar, Anton, Arion, Arjen, Aron, Arthur, Aurel, Aurelio, Ayman, Azad, Benno, Björn, Byron, Conradin, Dario, Dayan, Din, Eddie, Ediz, Elliot, Elvis, Emanuel, Emiel, Emil, Emilian, Erlis, Felix, Finn, Florian, Francesco, Gabriel, Gael, Grégory, Gustav, Henrik, Henry, Jakob, Jan, Jari, Jemin, Jonas, Joris, Julius, Juri, Justin, Karl, Kenan, Kian, Korab, Kunga, Laurin, Leandro, Leon, Levi, Liam, Lian, Liano, Linard, Lino, Lio, Louie, Luar, Mailo, Maleo, Malik, Marcelo, Matin, Matti, Mauro, Max, Metehan, Mikkel, Milo, Miro, Musab, Nathan, Neo, Nevio, Nils, Noam, Noar, Noel, Norden, Quentin, Richard, Rocco, Romeo, Rron, Samuel, Sandro, Santiago, Sava, Tenzin, Theo, Tiago, Tim, Timéo, Timo, Tobia, Vinzenz, Vitus, Xaver, Yakari, Yannick, Yannis

Some thoughts on a few of the above…

  • Künkyi and Tenzin are Tibetan.
  • Nevia and Nevio are Italian. They derive from the Roman family name Naevius, which was based on the Latin word naevus, meaning “birthmark” or “mole (on the body).”
  • Rron is an Albanian. It was created from the word rronj, a dialectal form of rroj, which means “to live, to survive.”

Finally, here’s a link to Liechtenstein’s 2020 rankings, if you’d like to compare last year to the year before.

Source: Neugeborenennamen 2021 – Statistikportal Liechtenstein

Image: Adapted from Flag of Liechtenstein (public domain)