How popular is the baby name Lois in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Lois.

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Popularity of the Baby Name Lois


Posts that Mention the Name Lois

How did “Casablanca” influence baby names?

The character Ilsa Lund (played by Ingrid Bergman) in the movie "Casablanca" (1942).
Ilsa Lund from “Casablanca“

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world…she walks into mine.”

Who is “she”? Ilsa Lund, the ex-lover of Rick Blaine in the classic film Casablanca, which was released in late 1942 and won the Academy Award for Best Picture (plus two other Oscars) in early 1944.

  • 1945: 5 baby girls named Ilsa
  • 1944: 12 baby girls named Ilsa
  • 1943: 6 baby girls named Ilsa [debut]
  • 1942: unlisted
  • 1942: unlisted

The baby name Ilsa (a variant of Ilse, which is a pet form of Elisabeth, the German form of Elizabeth) promptly debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1943.

The movie was based upon a never-produced play written in 1940. In the play, the female lead was an American named Lois Meredith, but in the screenplay the character evolved into a Norwegian woman named Ilsa Lund.

Ingrid Bergman (the mother of Pia) played Isla, while Humphrey Bogart played protagonist Rick — who likely kicked off the sharp rise in the usage of Rick that began in the early ’40s:

  • 1945: 505 baby boys named Rick
  • 1944: 431 baby boys named Rick
  • 1943: 237 baby boys named Rick
  • 1942: 96 baby boys named Rick
  • 1941: 60 baby boys named Rick

What do you think of the name Ilsa? Do you prefer this spelling, or the original spelling (Ilse)?

Source: Rode, Alan K. Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2017.

Name Quotes #86: Sena, Fennis, LeBron

Time for the monthly quote-post!

From the speech “How Everything Turns Away” by children’s book author Lois Lowry (b. 1937):

My first photograph…or the first photograph of me…was taken, by my father, when I was 36 hours old. My name was different then. They had named me Sena, for my Norwegian grandmother, and that was my name until she was notified; then she sent a telegram insisting that they give me an American name, and so I was renamed Lois Ann for my father’s two sisters.

From an article about baby-naming in Armenia:

Armenia does not have a censorship for names, while its neighbor Azerbaijan has. There are three categories of names in Azerbaijan: “allowed,” “undesirable,” and “prohibited.” No comment is necessary for the first group. The second group includes funny and bizarre names. The third group refers to Armenian names.

On the names of spirit guides, from the book Journey of Souls (1994) by LBL hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton:

The personal names my clients attach to their guides range from ordinary, whimsical, or quaint-sounding words, to the bizarre. Frequently, these names can be traced back to a specific past life a teacher spent with a student. Some clients are unable to verbalize their guide’s name because the sound cannot be duplicated, even when they see them clearly while under hypnosis. I tell these people it is much more important that they understand the purpose of why certain guides are assigned to them, rather than possessing their names. A subject may simply use a general designation for their guide such as: director, advisor, instructor, or just “my friend.”

From a 1987 Sports Illustrated interview with basketball player Fennis Dembo:

With apologies to World B. Free, Shaquille O’Neal and, yes, even God Shammgod, when it comes to staking a claim to basketball’s alltime name, Fennis Dembo enjoys Jordanlike distance from the pretenders. “I’m always a bit stunned that people still remember me,” says Fennis, whose mother, Clarissa, selected his name, along with that of his twin sister, Fenise, as a declaration that after 11 children, her childbearing days were finis. “I tried to set up an E-mail account, but two other guys–basketball fans, I guess–were already using my name in their address.”

From a 2018 interview with basketball player LeBron James [vid]:

I still regret giving my 14-year-old my name […] When I was younger, obviously, I didn’t have a dad. So, my whole thing was, like, whenever I have a kid, not only is he gonna be a junior, but I’m gonna do everything that this man didn’t do. They’re gonna experience things that I didn’t experience, and the only thing I can do is give them the blueprint, and it’s up to them to take their own course.

(LeBron, Jr., is nicknamed “Bronny” — no doubt to differentiate son from father, but perhaps also to take some of the pressure off. Here’s a post about how LeBron James has affected baby names over the years.)

From a 2016 Maxim interview with movie director Ron Howard:

Q: Is it true that your kids’ middle names come from the locations where they were conceived?

A: David Letterman got that out of me, and my kids will never let me forget it. My daughter, Bryce [Dallas Howard], was conceived in Dallas, and our twins [Jocelyn Carlyle Howard and Paige Carlyle Howard] were conceived while we were doing a publicity tour at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. For the last one [Reed Cross Howard], we were on Lower Cross Road, so we decided to go with Cross. “Volvo” wouldn’t be such a good middle name.

From a review of the memoir The Kennedy Chronicles by former MTV veejay Kennedy (full name: Lisa Kennedy Montgomery):

According to Kennedy, her secret dalliance with the then-married lead singer and frontman of the Goo Goo Dolls led to one of the group’s most well-known songs, the 1995 mega-hit “Name.” To Kennedy, the lyrics hit a little to close to home: “Did you lose yourself somewhere out there? Did you get to be a star?” And then “You could hide beside me/ Maybe for a while. And I won’t tell no one your name.”

She writes: “When I asked him about it he indeed admitted the inspiration and told me there was no way all we’d shared wasn’t going to show up in his writing.”

Here’s the song:

Rare Girl Names from Early Cinema: Letter D

derry thomas, movies, 1920s
Madge Bellamy as Derry Thomas in the movie Summer Bachelors (1926).

Looking for an uncommon D-name for your baby girl? Here’s the next installment of rare female names collected from very old films (1910s to 1940s)…

*

Dabby
Dabby was a character played by actress Ruby Dandridge in the film Tap Roots (1948).

Dacia
Dacia was a character played by actress Vivian Tobin in the film The Sign of the Cross (1932).

  • Usage of the baby name Dacia.

Dado
Dado Scholl was a character played by actress Gretchen Lederer in the short film The Temptation of Edwin Swayne (1915).

Dagmar
Dagmar was a character name in multiple films, including A Million A Minute (1916) and The Trial of Mary Dugan (1929).

  • Usage of the baby name Dagmar.

Daire
Daire Vincent was a character played by actress Gladys Brockwell in the film Up from the Depths (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Daire.

Dale
Dale Fuller was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in California in 1885. Her birth name was Marie Dale Phillipps. Dale was also a character name in multiple films, including Top Hat (1935) and King of Alcatraz (1938).

  • Usage of the baby name Dale.

Dalla
Dalla was a character played by actress Betty Compson in the film The Female (1924).

Dalle
Dalle Aldis was a character played by actress Ruth Clifford in the film The Lure of Luxury (1918).

Danila
Danila was a character played by actress Kay Sutton in the film Flying Blind (1941).

  • Usage of the baby name Danila.

Dany
Dany Robin was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1960s. She was born in France in 1927. Her birth name was Danielle Robin.

  • Usage of the baby name Dany.

Daphnia
Daphnia was a character played by actress Winifred Greenwood in the short film Daphnia (1914).

Darya
Darya Orlinsky was a character played by actress Viola Dana in the film The Cossack Whip (1916).

  • Usage of the baby name Darya.

Davidina
Davidina was a character played by actress Grace Gordon in the film Spangles (1926).

Dazil
Dazil Mellows was a character played by actress Alice Brady in the film The Redhead (1919).

Dea
Dea was a character name in multiple films, including The Man Who Laughs (1928) and Typhoon (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Dea.

Deanie
Deanie Consadine was a character played by actress Madge Evans in the film The Power and the Glory (1918).

  • Usage of the baby name Deanie.

Decima
Decima Duress was a character played by actress Lois Meredith in the film An Enemy to Society (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Decima.

Dede
Dede Mason was a character played by actress Myrtle Stedman in the film Burning Daylight (1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Dede.

Dee
Dee Foster was a character played by actress Alice White in the film Broadway Babies (1929).

  • Usage of the baby name Dee.

Dee Dee
Dee Dee Dillwood was a character played by actress Joan Fontaine in the film You Gotta Stay Happy (1948).

Deedee
Deedee Doree was a character played by actress Mona Barrie in the film Love, Honor and Oh-Baby! (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Deedee.

Deirdre
Deirdre Drake was a character played by actress Dolores Moran in the film Old Acquaintance (1943).

Delaphine
Delaphine was a character played by actress Gene Gauntier in the short film The Belle of New Orleans (1912).

Delarai
Delarai was a character played by actress Merle Oberon in the film Night in Paradise (1946).

Delatorre
Princess Delatorre was a character played by actress Julia Swayne Gordon in the film Misbehaving Ladies (1931).

Delfina
Delfina Acuña was a character played by actress Barbara Brown in the film You Were Never Lovelier (1942).

Delice
Delice Brixton was a character played by actress Dorothy Phillips in the film The Flashlight (1917).

  • Usage of the baby name Delice.

Delicia
Delicia was a character name in multiple films, including The Human Investment (1915) and The Ladder of Fortune (1915).

Delight
Delight was a character name in multiple films, including The Unafraid (short, 1915) and Dangerous Days (1920).

Delima
Delima Turcott was a character played by actress Rosa Rosanova in the film A Woman’s Faith (1925).

  • Usage of the baby name Delima.

Deloryce
Deloryce was a character played by actress Betty Compson in the film Woman to Woman (1929).

Delphinie
Delphinie was a character played by actress Lillian Yarbo in the film Boy Friend (1939).

Delsie
Delsie O’Dell was a character played by actress Dorothy Gish in the film The Ghost in the Garret (1921).

  • Usage of the baby name Delsie.

Demetra
Demetra was a character played by actress Maud Allan in the film The Rug Maker’s Daughter (1915).

Demetria
Demetria Riffle was a character played by actress Eily Malyon in the film On Borrowed Time (1939).

Dena
Dena Maxwellton was a character played by actress Iris Adrian in the film Swing It Soldier (1941).

  • Usage of the baby name Dena.

Dennie
Dennie Moore was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was born in New York in 1902. Her birth name was Florence Moore.

  • Usage of the baby name Dennie.

Derelys
Derelys Perdue was an actress who appeared in films in the 1920s. She was born in Missouri in 1902. Her birth name was Geraldine Perdue. Derelys was also a character played by actress Lilyan Tashman in the film Take Me Home (1928).

  • Usage of the baby name Derelys (which debuted in the data in 1924).

Deria
Deria was a character played by actress Julia Dean in the film Experiment Perilous (1944).

  • Usage of the baby name Deria.

Derith
Derith was a character played by actress Claire Windsor in the film The Strangers’ Banquet (1922).

  • Usage of the baby name Derith (which debuted in the data the year after The Strangers’ Banquet came out).

Derry
Derry Thomas was a character played by actress Madge Bellamy in the film Summer Bachelors (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Derry.

Desdemona
Desdemona was a character played by actress Julia Swayne Gordon in the film Othello (1908).

Despina
Despina was the 114-year-old woman featured in the short documentary The Weavers (1905), believed to be the first motion picture shot in the Balkans. (There’s no proof of Despina’s year of birth, but if she really was 114 years old, then she’s the earliest-born person ever filmed.)

Dessie
Dessie Arnhalt was a character played by actress Zasu Pitts in the film West of the Water Tower (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Dessie.

Dete
Dete was a character played by actress Mady Christians in the film Heidi (1937).

Devoria
Devoria was a character played by actress Ruby Dandridge in the film Home in Oklahoma (1946).

Dey
Dey Shevlin was a character played by actress Winifred Westover in the film The Fighter (1921).

Diantha
Diantha was a character name in multiple films, including Daughter of Mine (1919) and Cass Timberlane (1947).

Didi
Didi Bonfee was a character played by actress Alice White in the film Secret of the Chateau (1934).

  • Usage of the baby name Didi.

Dierdre
Dierdre Saurin was a character played by actress Claire Windsor in the film The Claw (1927).

Dilys
Dilys was a character played by actress Patricia Roc in the film Jassy (1947).

  • Usage of the baby name Dilys.

Dione
Princess Dione was a character played by actress Claire Du Brey in the film The Reward of the Faithless (1917).

  • Usage of the baby name Dione.

Diony
Diony Hall was a character played by actress Eleanor Boardman in the film The Great Meadow (1931).

  • Usage of the baby name Diony.

Dita
Dita Parlo was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was born in Germany (now Poland) in 1906. Her birth name was Grethe Gerda Kornstädt.

  • Usage of the baby name Dita.

Dixiana
Dixiana Caldwell was a character played by actress Bebe Daniels in the film Dixiana (1930).

  • Usage of the baby name Dixiana (which debuted in the data in 1930).

Dodie
Dodie was a character name in multiple films, including Help Yourself (1932) and And Sudden Death (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Dodie.

Dodo
Dodo was a character name in multiple films, including Our Little Wife (1918) and Rouge and Riches (1920).

Dolce
Dolce was a character played by actress Bessie Learn in the short film Poisoned by Jealousy (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Dolce.

Dollie
Dollie was a character name in multiple films, including The Adventures of Dollie (1908) and Hero by Proxy (1916).

  • Usage of the baby name Dollie.

Dolly
Dolly Larkin was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in New York in 1889. Her birth name was Margaret Larkin. Dolly was also a character played by actress Cleo Madison in the short film The Ring of Destiny (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Dolly.

Dolores
Dolores del Rio was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1970s. She was born in Mexico in 1904. Dolores Moran was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1950s. She was born in California in 1926. Dolores was also a character played by actress Hedy Lamarr in the film Tortilla Flat (1942).

Dolorita
Dolorita was a dancer who appeared in films in the 1890s and 1900s. Her first film, The Dolorita Passion Dance (1897), was the first motion picture to be banned in the United States. (It was banned in Atlantic City specifically.)

Dolorosa
Dolorosa was a character name in multiple films, including Mockery (1912) and Strangling Threads (1923).

Dominga
Dominga was a character played by actress Armida in the film Border Cafe (1937).

Domini
Domini was a character played by various actresses (such as Helen Ware and Marlene Dietrich) in various movies called The Garden of Allah, all based on the 1904 novel of the same name by Robert Smythe Hichens.

  • Usage of the baby name Domini.

Dominica
Dominica was a character played by actress Nell Craig in multiple short films in 1915, such as The Rajah’s Tunic (1915).

Donia
Donia Bussey was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1950s. She was born in Ohio in 1899. Donia was also a character played by actress Edith Storey in the short film The Chains of an Oath (1913).

  • Usage of the baby name Donia.

Donivee
Donivee Purkey was an actress who appeared in films in the 1940s. She was born in Oklahoma in 1922.

  • Usage of the baby name Donivee (which debuted in the data in 1942).

Doraldina
Doraldina was a mononymous dancer/actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in California in 1888. Her birth name was Dora Saunders.

Dorcas
Dorcas was a character name in multiple films, including Brought Home (1915) and Straight Is the Way (1921).

  • Usage of the baby name Dorcas.

Doree
Doree Macy was a character played by actress Bebe Daniels in the film My Past (1931).

  • Usage of the baby name Doree.

Doreen
Doreen Stockwell was a character played by actress Julie London in the film Nabonga (1944).

  • Usage of the baby name Doreen.

Doric
Doric Blint was a character played by actress Julia Faye in the film Venus in the East (1919).

Dorina
Dorina was a character played by actress Pina Menichelli in the Italian film La trilogia di Dorina (1917).

  • Usage of the baby name Dorina.

Dorinda
Dorinda Clifton was an actress who appeared in films in the 1940s and 1950s. She was born in California in 1928. Dorinda was also a character name in multiple films, including Rosemary, That’s for Remembrance (1914) and The Farmer’s Daughter (1940).

Dorinea
Dorinea Shirley was an actress who appeared in films in the 1920s. She was born in England in 1902.

Dorinne
Dorinne Adams was a character played by actress Wanda Hawley in the film Fires of Fate (1923).

Dorita
Dorita was a character played by actress Carmen Miranda in the film The Gang’s All Here (1943).

  • Usage of the baby name Dorita.

Dorothea
Dorothea Kent was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Missouri in 1916. Dorothea was also a character name in multiple films, including The Heart of a Child (1915) and Broken in the Wars (1919).

Dorris
Dorris Dare was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in 1899.

  • Usage of the baby name Dorris.

Dorrit
Dorrit Weixler was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Germany in 1892.

  • Usage of the baby name Dorrit.

Dot
Dot was a character name in multiple films, including Kid Millions (1934) and The Law in Her Hands (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Dot.

Dottie
Dottie was a character name in multiple films, including Victorine (1915) and Telephone Operator (1937).

  • Usage of the baby name Dottie.

Dotty
Dotty Donald was a character played by actress Velma Whitman in the film Some Boy (1917).

  • Usage of the baby name Dotty.

Douglamana
Douglamana was a character played by actress Laska Winter in the film Frozen Justice (1929).

Draguisha
Draguisha was a character played by actress Valerie Hobson in the film Continental Express (1939).

Dreena
Dreena was a character played by actress Nell Shipman in the films White Water (1926) and The Light on Lookout Mountain (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Dreena.

Dreka
Dreka Langley was a character played by actress Rosemary Theby in the film Pagan Passions (1924).

Dria
Dria Paola was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was born in Italy in 1909. Her birth name was Etra Pitteo.

Drina
Drina was a character name in multiple films, including Marie, Ltd. (1919) and Dead End (1937).

  • Usage of the baby name Drina.

Drowzina
Drowzina was a character played by actress Gwen Lee in the short film Candid Cameramaniacs (1937).

Drucilla
Drucilla was a character name in multiple films, including Pretty Mrs. Smith (1915) and Grim Justice (1916).

Drusilla
Drusilla was a character name in multiple films, including The Forest on the Hill (1919) and Reap the Wild Wind (1942).

Duane
Duane Thompson was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1930s. She was born in Iowa in 1903.

  • Usage of the baby name Duane.

Duenna
Duenna was a character played by actress Carrie Clark Ward in the film Thundering Hoofs (1924).

Dulcey
Dulcey Lee was a character played by actress Zasu Pitts in the film The Lady’s from Kentucky (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Dulcey.

Dulcie
Dulcie was a character name in multiple films, including The Masqueraders (1915) and Miss Dulcie from Dixie (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Dulcie.

Dulcinea
Dulcinea was a character played by actress Fay Tincher in the film Don Quixote (1915).

Dulcy
Dulcy was a character name in multiple films, including Not So Dumb (1930) and Dulcy (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Dulcy.

Duna
Duna was a character played by actress Sarah Padden in the film Rasputin and the Empress (1932).

  • Usage of the baby name Duna.

Durgan
Durgan was a character played by Bodil Rosing in the film Broadway Babies (1929).

Dusa
Dusa was a character played by actress Helen Gardner in the short film A Daughter of Pan (1913).

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Which of the above D-names do you like best?

Source: IMDb

Contrarian Baby Names: Cliff, Janet, Steve, Wanda…

contrarian baby names, uncool baby names

“Everly” is hot…”Beverly” is not. It’s a one-letter difference between fashionable and fusty.

If you’re sensitive to style, you’ll prefer Everly. It fits with today’s trends far better than Beverly does.

But if you’re someone who isn’t concerned about style, or prefers to go against style, then you may not automatically go for Everly. In fact, you may be more attracted to Beverly because it’s the choice that most modern parents would avoid.

If you’ve ever thought about intentionally giving your baby a dated name (like Debbie, Grover, Marcia, or Vernon) for the sake of uniqueness within his/her peer group — if you have no problem sacrificing style for distinctiveness — then this list is for you.

Years ago, the concept of “contrarian” baby names came up in the comments of a post about Lois. Ever since then, creating a collection of uncool/contrarian baby names has been on my to-do list.

Finally, last month, I experimented with various formulas for pulling unstylish baby names out of the SSA dataset. Keeping the great-grandparent rule in mind, I aimed for names that would have been fashionable among the grandparents of today’s babies. The names below are the best results I got.

Contrarian Baby Names: Girls

Alberta
Anita
Ann
Annetta
Annette
Bambi
Becky
Benita
Bertha
Bessie
Beth
Betty
Beverley
Beverly
Blanche
Bobbie
Bobby
Bonita
Candy
Caren
Carlene
Carol
Carole
Cary
Caryn
Cathleen
Cathy
Charla
Charlene
Charmaine
Cheri
Cherie
Cheryl
Chris
Christi
Cindy
Claudette
Coleen
Colleen
Connie
Dale
Danette
Danita
Darlene
Dawn
Dawna
Deanne
Debbie
Debora
Debra 		Deirdre
Delores
Denice
Denise
Diane
Dianna
Dianne
Dollie
Dolores
Dona
Donna
Doreen
Dori
Doris
Dorthy
Eddie
Edwina
Ernestine
Ethel
Gail
Gayle
Gena
Geralyn
Germaine
Gilda
Glenda
Glenna
Harriett
Jackie
Janet
Janice
Janis
Jayne
Jean
Jeanette
Jeanie
Jeanine
Jeanne
Jeannette
Jeannie
Jeannine
Jeri
Jerri
Jerry
Jill
Jimmie
Jo
Joan
Joann
Joanne 		Jodi
Jody
Joellen
Joni
Juanita
Judi
Judy
Juli
Kandi
Karin
Kathie
Kathy
Kay
Kaye
Kerrie
Kerry
Kim
Kimberley
Kitty
Kris
Kristi
Ladonna
Laureen
Lauretta
Laurie
Lavonne
Lee
Leesa
Lois
Lorene
Lori
Lorie
Lorinda
Lorna
Lorraine
Lorrie
Lou
Louann
Lu
Luann
Luanne
Lucretia
Lupe
Lyn
Lynda
Lynn
Lynne
Madonna
Marcia
Marcy 		Margie
Mariann
Marianne
Marla
Marsha
Maryjo
Maureen
Meg
Melba
Melinda
Melva
Michele
Migdalia
Mitzi
Myrna
Nanette
Nelda
Nicki
Nita
Norma
Pamela
Patrice
Patsy
Patti
Patty
Pauline
Peggy
Pennie
Phyllis
Randy
Reba
Rene
Rhonda
Rita
Robbie
Robbin
Roberta
Robin
Rochelle
Ronda
Rosanne
Roseann
Roxane
Roxann
Sandy
Saundra
Sharon
Sheila
Shelia
Shelley 		Shelly
Sheri
Sherri
Sherry
Sheryl
Shirley
Sondra
Sue
Susanne
Suzan
Suzanne
Tammie
Tammy
Tena
Teri
Terri
Terry
Thelma
Theresa
Therese
Tina
Tonia
Tonya
Tracey
Traci
Tracie
Tracy
Treva
Trina
Trudy
Velma
Verna
Vicki
Vickie
Vicky
Wanda
Wendy
Willie
Wilma
Yolanda
Yvonne

Contrarian Baby Names: Boys

Adolph
Al
Alford
Alphonso
Arne
Arnie
Arnold
Artie
Barry
Barton
Bennie
Bernard
Bernie
Bert
Bill
Billie
Bob
Bobbie
Brad
Bradford
Brent
Bret
Britt
Bud
Buddy
Burl
Burt
Butch
Carey
Carleton
Carlton
Carmen
Carroll
Cary
Cecil
Chester
Chuck
Clarence
Claude
Cletus
Cleveland
Cliff
Clifford
Clifton
Columbus
Curt
Curtiss
Dale
Dan
Dana 		Dannie
Darrel
Darryl
Daryl
Dave
Davie
Del
Delbert
Dell
Delmer
Denny
Derwin
Dewey
Dirk
Don
Donnie
Donny
Doug
Douglass
Doyle
Duane
Dudley
Duwayne
Dwain
Dwaine
Dwane
Dwight
Earl
Earnest
Ed
Edsel
Elbert
Ernie
Farrell
Floyd
Fred
Freddie
Fredric
Gale
Garland
Garry
Garth
Gene
Geoffrey
Gerard
Gerry
Gilbert
Glen
Glenn
Greg 		Gregg
Greggory
Grover
Guy
Hal
Haywood
Herbert
Herman
Homer
Horace
Howell
Hubert
Irwin
Jackie
Jame
Jeff
Jefferey
Jeffry
Jerald
Jerold
Jess
Jim
Jimmie
Jodie
Jody
Johnie
Johnnie
Karl
Kelly
Ken
Kenney
Kennith
Kent
Kermit
Kerry
Kim
Kirk
Kraig
Kurt
Laurence
Lawrance
Len
Lenard
Lennie
Les
Leslie
Lester
Lindell
Lindsay
Lindsey 		Linwood
Lloyd
Lonnie
Lonny
Loren
Lorin
Lowell
Loyd
Lynn
Marion
Marty
Matt
Maxie
Mel
Merle
Merrill
Mickel
Mickey
Millard
Milton
Mitch
Mitchel
Monty
Neal
Ned
Nicky
Norbert
Norman
Norris
Orville
Perry
Pete
Phil
Ralph
Randal
Randel
Randell
Randolph
Rayford
Rick
Rickey
Rickie
Rob
Robby
Robin
Rock
Rodger
Rogers
Rojelio
Rolf 		Ron
Roosevelt
Rudolfo
Rudolph
Rufus
Russ
Rusty
Sal
Sammie
Sandy
Sanford
Scot
Sherman
Sherwood
Skip
Stan
Stanford
Steve
Stevie
Stewart
Stuart
Sylvester
Tad
Ted
Terence
Thurman
Tim
Timmothy
Timmy
Tod
Todd
Tom
Tommie
Toney
Tracey
Tracy
Val
Vernell
Vernon
Waymon
Wendell
Wilbert
Wilbur
Wilford
Wilfred
Willard
Willis
Winfred
Woody

Interestingly, thirteen of the names above — Bobbie, Cary, Dale, Jackie, Jimmie, Jody, Kerry, Kim, Lynn, Robin, Sandy, Tracey, Tracy — managed to make both lists.

Now some questions for you…

Do you like any of these names? Would you be willing to use any of them on a modern-day baby? Why or why not?

Rare Girl Names from Early Cinema: Letter M (part 1)

maris wrixon, movie, name, 1940s

Here’s the next installment of rare female names collected from old films (1910s-1940s).

The list of M-names was long, so I split it in two. The second half will be posted in a few weeks.

Maartje
Maartje Poole was a character played by actress Gladys Brockwell in the film So Big (1924).

Mab
Mab was a character played by actress Mignon Anderson in the short film Lost: A Union Suit (1914).

Mabella
Mabella was a character played by actress Eva Novak in the film The Man from Hell’s River (1922).

Mabs
Mabs was a character played by actress Doris Lloyd in the film The Careless Age (1929).

Macushla
Macushla Westmacott was a character played by actress Jean Adrienne in the film Father O’Flynn (1935).

Madelinette
Madelinette was a character played by actress Agnes Ayres in the film The Lane That Had No Turning (1922).

Madelon
Madelon was a character name in multiple films, including as Fanchon, the Cricket (1915) and The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931).

Madge
Madge Evans was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in New York in 1909. Her birth name was Margherita Evans. Madge Kennedy was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1970s. She was born in Illinois in 1891. Madge was also a character name in multiple films, including The Tragedy of Ambition (short, 1914) and The Peace of Roaring River (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Madge.

Madlaine
Madlaine Traverse was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Ohio in 1875.

Mado
Mado was a character played by actress Lana Turner in the film Dramatic School (1938).

Mady
Mady Christians was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1940s. She was born in Austria-Hungary (now Austria) in 1892. Her birth name was Marguerite Maria Christians.

  • Usage of the baby name Mady.

Mafalda
Mafalda was a character played by actress Paulette Duval in the film No Other Woman (1928).

Magda
Magda Foy was a child actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in New York in 1905. Her birth name was Magdalena Patricia Foy. Madga was also a character played by actress Gertrude Michael in the film I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Magda.

Magdalen
Magdalen was a character played by actress Julia Swayne Gordon in the film The Battle Cry of Peace (1915).

Maggia
Maggia was a character played by actress Lydia Yeamans Titus in the film A Burglar for a Night (1918)

Mahaly
Mahaly was a character played by actress Florence Short in the film Kildare of Storm (1918).

Mahbubah
Mahbubah was a character name in multiple films, including Chu-Chin-Chow (1925) and Chu-Chin-Chow (1934).

Mahina
Mahina was a character played by actress Raquel Echeverría in the film Waikiki Wedding (1937).

  • Usage of the baby name Mahina.

Mahlee
Mahlee was a character played by actress Alla Nazimova in the film The Red Lantern (1919).

Mahwissa
Mahwissa was a character played by actress Eulalie Jensen in the short film West Wind (1915).

Mahyna
Mahyna was a character played by actress Betty Compson in the film She Got What She Wanted (1930).

Mai
Mai Wells was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in California in 1862. Mai was also a character played by actress Myrna Loy in the film Don Juan (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Mai.

Maida
Maida was a character name in multiple films, including The Grey Sisterhood (short, 1916) and The Island of Intrigue (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Maida.

Maidel
Maidel Turner was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1950s. She was born in Texas in 1888.

Maimiti
Maimiti was a character played by actress Mamo Clark in the film Mutiny on the Bounty (1935).

Mait
Mait Stanley was a character played by actress Leila Hyams in the film Sandra (1924).

Maizee
Maizee was a character played by actress Winnie Lightner in the film She Had to Say Yes (1933).

  • Usage of the baby name Maizee.

Malbro
Malbro was a character played by actress Bette Davis in the film The Rich Are Always with Us (1932).

Maletta
Countess Maletta was a character played by actress Claire Trevor in the film The Desperadoes (1943).

Maleva
Maleva was a character played by actress Maria Ouspenskaya in the films The Wolf Man (1941) and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943).

Malissa
Malissa Milton was a character played by actress Marguerite Courtot in the short film Fate’s Midnight Hour (1914).

Malita
Malita was a character played by actress Rafaela Ottiano in the film The Devil-Doll (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Malita.

Malmama
Malmama was a character played by actress Ormi Hawley in the short film Women of the Desert (1913).

Malva
Malva was a character played by actress Lya De Putti in the film Malva (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Malva.

Malvina
Malvina Longfellow was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in New York in 1889. Malvina Polo was an actress who appeared in films in the 1920s. She was born in California in 1903. Malvina was also a character name in multiple films, including Ann Vickers (1933) and Let’s Make Music (1941).

Malvolia
Malvolia Brown was a character played by actress Juanita Quigley in the film National Velvet (1944).

Mamie
Mamie was a character name in multiple films, including Public Enemy (1931) and You Live and Learn (1937).

  • Usage of the baby name Mamie.

Mamo
Mamo Clark, often credited simply as Mamo, was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Hawaii in 1914.

Manette
Manette was a character name in multiple films, including Monsieur Nikola Dupree (short, 1915) and An Obvious Situation (1930).

Manon
Manon was a character name in multiple films, including When a Man Loves (1927) and Lady of the Tropics (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Manon.

Manora
Manora Thew was an English actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in India in 1891.

Manya
Manya was a character name in multiple films, including The Wedding Night (1935) and Paris Honeymoon (1939).

  • Usage of the baby name Manya.

Marah
Marah was a character played by actress Lila Leslie in the short film Marah, the Pythoness (1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Marah.

Marama
Marama was a character name in multiple films, including The Adorable Savage (1920) and The Hurricane (1937).

Marcel
Marcel was a character name in multiple films, including Silent Years (1921) and Crossed Wires (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Marcel.

Marcelle
Marcelle Corday was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1950s. She was born in Belgium in 1890. Marcelle Hontabat was an actress who appeared in 1 film in 1916. She was born in New York in 1897. Marcelle was also a character name in multiple films, including The Way Out (1918) and 50 Million Frenchmen (1931).

Marcene
Marcene Elliot was a character played by actress Pauline Starke in the film The Broken Butterfly (1919).

Marcolina
Marcolina was a character played by actress Paulette Duval in the film Blarney (1926).

Marda
Marda was a character name in multiple films, including Ramona (1928) and Blame the Woman (1932).

  • Usage of the baby name Marda.

Marea
Marea was a character played by actress Florence Turner in the film As Ye Repent (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Marea.

Marga-Jane
Marga-Jane Hastings was a character played by actress Adele Mara in the film I, Jane Doe (1948).

Marge
Marge was a character name in multiple films, including Merry-Go-Round (1932) and Charter Pilot (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Marge.

Marget
Marget MacTavish was a character played by actress Mary Pickford in the film The Pride of the Clan (1917).

  • Usage of the baby name Marget.

Margia
Margia Dean was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1960s. She was born in Illinois in 1922. Her birth name was Marguerite Louise Skliris.

  • Usage of the baby name Margia.

Margit
Margit was a character name in multiple films, including Double Wedding (1937) and Moonlight Sonata (1937).

  • Usage of the baby name Margit.

Margolotte
Margolotte was a character played by actress Leontine Dranet in the film The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).

Margy
Margy was a character played by actress Marie Prevost in the film The Runaround (1931).

  • Usage of the baby name Margy.

Marianela
Marianela was a character played by actress Marquita Madero in the film Two Latins from Manhattan (1941).

Marianka
Marianka Huber was a character played by actress Dale Fuller in the film Merry-Go-Round (1923).

Mariata
Mariata was a character played by actress Eugenie Forde in the short film Jim’s Atonement (1913).

Maribelle
Maribelle was a character played by actress Adele Mara in the film Grissly’s Millions (1945).

Marienka
Marienka was a character played by actress Lillian Leighton in the film The Hostage (1917).

Marietta
Marietta was a character name in multiple films, including The Van Warden Rubies (short, 1913) and Naughty Marietta (1935).

Mariette
Mariette was a character name in multiple films, including Rouged Lips (1923) and The Doctor and the Girl (1949).

Marija
Marija was a character played by actress Alice Marc in the film The Jungle (1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Marija.

Marilda
Marilda Porter was a character played by actress Rosa Gore in the film The Million Dollar Handicap (1925).

Marilla
Marilla was a character name in multiple films, including Anne of Green Gables (1919) and Anne of Green Gables (1934).

Mariposa
Mariposa Ginsbotham was a character played by actress Barbara Jo Allen in the film Priorities on Parade (1942).

Maris
Maris Wrixon was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was born in Washington in 1916. Her birth name was Mary Alice Wrixon.

  • Usage of the baby name Maris.

Marise
Marise La Noue was a character played by actress Enid Bennett in the film The Red Lily (1924).

  • Usage of the baby name Marise.

Mariska
Mariska was a character played by actress Betty Blythe in the film The Undercurrent (1919).

Marita
Marita was a character played by actress Ann Blyth in the film Top o’ the Morning (1949).

  • Usage of the baby name Marita.

Maritana
Maritana was a character played by actress Alice Hollister in the film Don Caesar de Bazan (1915).

Mariusha
Mariusha was a character played by actress Julia Faye in the film The Volga Boatman (1926).

Marja
Marja was a character played by actress Rosemary Theby in the short film Playing with Fire (1915).

  • Usage of the baby name Marja.

Marjanah
Marjanah was a character played by actress Pearl Argyle in the film Chu-Chin-Chow (1934).

Marna
Marna was a character name in multiple films, including The Quality of Faith (1916) and Rough Romance (1930).

  • Usage of the baby name Marna.

Marny
Marny was a character played by actress Barbara Bedford in the film Old Loves and New (1926).

  • Usage of the baby name Marny.

Maroussia
Maroussia Dimitrevitch was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1950s.

Marquitta
Marquitta was a character played by actress Marie-Louise Iribe in the film Marquitta (1927).

Marsa
Marsa was a character played by actress Pauline Frederick in the film Her Final Reckoning (1918).

  • Usage of the baby name Marsa.

Marsari
Princess Marsari was a character played by actress Marguerite Snow in the short film The Heart of the Princess Marsari (1915).

Masha
Masha was a character played by actress Renée Adorée in the film Redemption (1930).

  • Usage of the baby name Masha.

Marsinah
Marsinah was a character name in multiple films, including Kismet (1920) and Kismet (1930).

Marthe
Marthe was a character played by actress Dorothy Mackaill in the film One Year to Live (1925).

  • Usage of the baby name Marthe.

Marthy
Marthy was a character name in multiple films, including Anna Christie (1923) and Anna Christie (1930).

  • Usage of the baby name Marthy.

Martie
Martie Beemish was a character played by actress Sarah Edwards in the film People Will Talk (1935).

  • Usage of the baby name Martie.

Martita
Martita Hunt was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was born in Argentina in 1899.

Marty
Marty McKenzie was a character played by actress Vivian Martin in the film You Never Saw Such a Girl (1919).

  • Usage of the baby name Marty.

Marua
Marua was a character played by actress Dorothy Sebastian in the film The Isle of Forgotten Women (1927).

  • Usage of the baby name Marua.

Maruja
Maruja de Costa was a character played by actress Rosita Marstini in the film The Moral Law (1918).

Maruschka
Maruschka was a character played by actress Dale Fuller in the film Foolish Wives (1922).

Marvel
Marvel Rea was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Nebraska in 1901.

  • Usage of the baby name Marvel.

Marya
Marya was a character name in multiple films, including The Yellow Ticket (1931) and Dracula’s Daughter (1936).

  • Usage of the baby name Marya.

Maryan
Maryan Garner was a character played by actress Helen Twelvetrees in the film Swing High (1930).

  • Usage of the baby name Maryan.

Maryana
Maryana was a character played by actress Renée Adorée in the film The Cossacks (1928).

Marybelle
Marybelle was a character name in multiple films, including The Mask (1918) and Laughter in Hell (1933).

Maryeruth
Maryeruth Boone was an actress who appeared in 1 film in 1932.

Mary-‘Gusta
Mary-‘Gusta was a character played by actress Vivian Martin in the film A Petticoat Pilot (1918).

Maryla
Maryla Sokalska was a character played by actress Ketty Galanta in the film Empty Pockets (1918).

  • Usage of the baby name Maryla.

Maryland
Maryland was a character name in multiple films, including The Heart of Maryland (1915) and The Heart of Maryland (1927).

Marylee
Marylee Depue was a character played by actress Gloria Joy in the film The Midnight Burglar (1918).

Mary-Will
Mary-Will Tellfair was a character played by actress Marjorie Daw in the film Fifty Candles (1921).

Mata
Mata was a character played by actress Mary Treen in the film Tahiti Nights (1944).

  • Usage of the baby name Mata.

Matafay
Matafay was a character played by actress Lou-Scha-Enya in the film Whoopee! (1930).

Mataoka
Mataoka was a character played by actress Cleo Madison in the film Unseen Hands (1924).

Mathilde
Mathilde was a character played by actress Lois Meredith in the film The Seats of the Mighty (1914).

Matrona
Matrona Pavlovna was a character played by actress Jessie Ralph in the film We Live Again (1934).

Maud
Maud Allan was an actress who appeared in 1 film in 1915. She was born in Canada in 1873. Her birth name was Beulah Maude Durrant. Maud was also a character played by actress Miriam Cooper in the film Daughters of the Rich (1923).

  • Usage of the baby name Maud.

Maude
Maude was a character name in multiple films, including Prisoners of Conscience (1916) and We’re Rich Again (1934).

  • Usage of the baby name Maude.

Maudie
Maudie Dunham was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in England in 1902. Maudie was also a character name in multiple films, including Tell Your Children (1922) and Night After Night (1932).

  • Usage of the baby name Maudie.

Maui
Maui was a character played by actress Gale Storm in the film Lure of the Islands (1942).

  • Usage of the baby name Maui.

Mauna
Mauna was a character played by actress Valerie Hobson in the film Strange Wives (1934).

  • Usage of the baby name Mauna.

Mauree
Mauree was a character played by actress Louise Beavers in the film West of the Pecos (1934).

Maurine
Maurine was a character name in multiple films, including Mother and Son (1931) and Rhythm of the Saddle (1938).

Maurya
Maurya was a character played by actress Sara Allgood in the short film Riders to the Sea (1935).

  • Usage of the baby name Maurya.

Mavity
Mavity Bence was a character played by actress Inez Ranous in the film The Power and the Glory (1918).

Maxene
Maxene Andrews, one of the Andrews Sisters, was a singer and actress who appeared in films from the 1940s. She was born in Minnesota in 1916.

  • Usage of the baby name Maxene.

Maxie
Maxie Carewe was a character played by actress Vivienne Osborne in the film So You Won’t Talk (1940).

  • Usage of the baby name Maxie.

Maybelle
Maybelle was a character name in multiple films, including The Wedding Gown (short, 1913) and Rings on Her Fingers (1942).

Mayda
Mayda St. Maurice was a character played by actress Eugenie Forde in the film The Courtesan (1916).

  • Usage of the baby name Mayda.

Mayflower
Mayflower was a character played by actress Gladys Hulette in the film Secrets of Paris (1922).

Mayme
Mayme Kelso was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Ohio in 1867. Mayme was also a character name in multiple films, including One Hundred Percent American (short, 1918) and The Mighty (1929).

  • Usage of the baby name Mayme.

Mayo
Mayo Methot was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Oregon in 1904.

  • Usage of the baby name Mayo.

Mayre
Mayre Hall was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Ohio in 1895.

  • Usage of the baby name Mayre.

Maysie
Maysie was a character played by actress Adda Gleason in the film Peggy, of Primrose Lane (short, 1914).

  • Usage of the baby name Maysie.

Mazie-Rosie
Mazie-Rosie Carden was a character played by actress Vivian Martin in the film Little Miss Optimist (1917).

Which of the above do you like best?