How popular is the baby name Polaris 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 Polaris.

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Popularity of the baby name Polaris


Posts that mention the name Polaris

Baby name story: Polaris

polaris, boat, north pole, baby name
The Polaris in 1871

The Polaris Expedition (1871-1873) was one of the many ill-fated early attempts to reach the North Pole.

In November of the first year, the ship’s captain, Charles Francis Hall, died — possibly from being poisoned. In October of the second year, the ship’s company accidentally broke up: 19 people were stranded on an ice floe while 14 remained on board.

Among those on the floe were Inuit hunter/interpreter Hans Hendrik (Greenlandic name: Suersaq), his wife Mergut, and their four children — including a newborn. The baby boy had arrived in August of 1871, while the family was still aboard the ship.

No doubt his parents gave him a Greenlandic name, but all the accounts of the expedition only mention the baby’s English name: Charlie Polaris. “Charlie” was for the late captain, and “Polaris” was for the ship.

Baby Charlie and the others were finally rescued in April of 1973 off the coast of Newfoundland, having drifted some 1,500 miles.

Sources:

P.S. The ship’s original name was Periwinkle, and it was part of the Potomac Flotilla during the final months of the Civil War.

The top girl-name debuts of 2010

lotus bud

Below are the girl name debuts of 2010.

What do I mean by “girl name debuts”? I mean girl names that never appeared on the Social Security Administration’s baby name list before 2010. That is, girl names that were never given to more than 5 baby girls in any single year on record (1880-2009).

  1. Tynlee, 42 baby girls – based on Tenley, inspired by Bachelor contestant Tenley Molzahn (thanks Brandy & Angela!)
  2. Khloei, 21
  3. Peyson, 18 – based on Payson, inspired by Make It or Break It character Payson (h/t SkyeRhyly)
  4. Tensley, 18
  5. Rossibell, 17 – from Nuestra Belleza Latina
  6. Solanch, 17
  7. Malillany, 16 – from actress Malillany Marín (h/t Angela)
  8. Emonii, 15
  9. Neytiri, 15 – the Avatar baby name!
  10. Ryden, 15
  11. Jazae, 14
  12. Winry, 14 – from anime character Winry Rockbell (h/t Angela)
  13. Addalynne, 13
  14. Alhia, 13
  15. Armonii, 13
  16. Emmelina, 13
  17. Geleah, 13
  18. Tenli, 13
  19. Bethenny, 12 – thanks to Bethenny Frankel
  20. Kenzly, 12
  21. Kynzlie, 12
  22. Naleigh, 12 – Katherine Heigl’s daughter’s nickname (Nancy + Leigh)
  23. Paisyn, 12
  24. Elyzah, 11
  25. Imar, 11
  26. Koraline, 11
  27. Olyviah, 11
  28. Reighlynn, 11
  29. Tynleigh, 11
  30. Anberlyn, 10
  31. Ariabella, 10
  32. Avaiyah, 10
  33. Chrissette, 10 – based on Chrisette, inspired by Chrisette Michele
  34. Collyns, 10
  35. Fatimazahra, 10
  36. Haydenn, 10
  37. Mahrosh, 10
  38. Naleia, 10
  39. Paycen, 10
  40. Reemas, 10
  41. Sookie, 10 – from True Blood barmaid Sookie Stackhouse (nice job Jamie & Amanda!)
  42. Vaya, 10

Given to 9 baby girls:
Celiana, Emelynn, Evelet, Hartleigh, Javeyah, Jazayah, Josenid, Juiliana, Juleena, Kailaya, Kanylah, Kollins, Maielle, Mayukha, Millani, Mishika, Phinley, Rayanah, Rozalie, Ryleighann, Sui, Sukhleen, Tinslee, Yahvi, Zaydie, Zaylyn

Given to 8 baby girls:
Agrima, Ahriyah, Aliiyah, Azula, Baiya, Bentlea, Breyelle, Ceriyah, Cymphony, Dieynaba, Dynver, Ellody, Emiliya, Emuna, Enajiah, Hailo, Harloe, Heldana, Honestii, Insiya, Jamilyah, Janielys, Kadira, Karmynn, Kiralee, Koli, Lilyah, Mahlaya, Malinalli, Mckinsley, Muniba, Naiyla, Paysli, Phallyn, Sahanna, Saraji, Sopheya, Success, Tarijah, Tinzley, Vedanshi, Veya, Vung, Yaara, Yaila, Zaliya, Zhuri, Zylee

Given to 7 baby girls:
Adalayde, Adaleena, Amairah, Analyz, Anjeliett, Armiya, Attalia, Aylynn, Brees, Brennley, Brently, Brindle, Caylinn, Copelyn, Coralyne, Crisette (see above), Daisymae, Dannaly, Daylani, Daymi, Delaili, Dubraska, Ellye, Emrys, Emyiah, Evoleht, Fynn, Giyanna, Guilliana, Hazelynn, Isabelah, Ishwari, Jaxsyn, Jenisys, Kaashvi, Kalashia, Kamella, Kerlin, Keylli, Kinli, Lochlynn, Lunabella, Luxi, Lyliah, Lynli, Macilynn, Makenzii, Makynleigh, Malaun, Malillani, Maliyani, Marayla, Mckenzii, Mehjabeen, Monzeratt, Naledi, Nazari, Nechy, Nesia, No, Noriana, Oluwasemilore, Paetynn, Petal, Phenyx, Portland, Rhyon, Rosealyn, Rylenn, Sajda, Tenlie, Tennley, Tinleigh, Tinzlee, Westyn, Yoona, Yorley, Zriah, Zykayla, Zynah

Given to 6 baby girls:
Aareona, Abela, Adallyn, Adalyna, Addisin, Addysn, Adelayne, Ahnalee, Ahnisty, Aiyani, Akyria, Aleemah, Alianys, Allieanna, Alyka, Amyliah, Aneeqa, Anleigh, Annalin, Architha, Arielyz, Ariyunna, Asiel, Aveleen, Avereigh, Averylynn, Ayati, Aydree, Aydrianna, Ayleigh, Ayvrie, Bellasophia, Benelli, Bixby, Braelie, Breelee, Brithny, Bryndal, Celisse, Chayden, Chesleigh, Coralina, Daeun, Dannaka, Dannely, Daryna, Delajah, Delilha, Denylah, Ealyn, Elaia, Emalyne, Emellia, Emelya, Emmelin, Emmrie, Enalina, Ereny, Esmi, Faya, Garner, Haizley, Haliana, Hartlyn, Haydi, Hazelee, Hikma, Hudsen, Ilhaan, Inci, Innessa, Ivyunna, Ixareli, Jahlissa, Jahziah, Janihya, Japneet, Jasilynn, Jasya, Jaydelyn, Jaylamarie, Jaylanni, Jayliany, Jazari, Jenessis, Jeraldyn, Jerely, Jeriana, Jhourni, Kamiyha, Kamyree, Karizmah, Kawsar, Kayleeanne, Kaymani, Kayzlee, Kealynn, Kemariyah, Kevaeh, Khaelyn, Khaleia, Khloye, Kimyia, Kinzlie, Kiylie, Kollyn, Kylaya, Kynnlie, Kynzley, Laliyah, Layelle, Lazariya, Leilanii, Lev, Lexanie, Lianett, Lillyaunna, Lilyiana, Liylah, Lizsandra, Logynn, Loxley, Lucillia, Luxx, Lyannah, Lyndin, Madilene, Maesie, Mafata, Mahal, Majorie, Makeira, Malinah, Maxim, Maybelin, Mays, Mckynli, Miabelle, Mickaylah, Milaun, Nabella, Nayloni, Nayome, Nayonika, Neomy, Nevaha, Nilani, Nitasha, Nylayah, Oluwaferanmi, Omiyah, Paesyn, Pahal, Paisely, Phoenixx, Prakriti, Pushti, Quinlee, Quinnley, Raiyah, Rajana, Rayleah, Rehan, Reja, Rhylen, Rimya, Ruaa, Ruah, Ruslana, Rylii, Saanvika, Sachika, Sadora, Salea, Sameriah, Samiira, Samriddhi, Sanchi, Sanylah, Savi, Shanvi, Sharleez, Shasmeen, Skilah, Sophiaann, Sukie, Swasti, Swayzie, Tabata, Tamariana, Tarajhi, Tazkia, Tazlyn, Tenly, Tyjanay, Xinyu, Xyliah, Yashaswini, Yaxiry, Zabdy, Zairy, Zaiyah, Zakarah, Zamoni, Zarihya, Zaylen, Ziannah, Zoeylynn, Zurielle, Zynae, Zyriyah, Zyyanna

Given to 5 baby girls (a few highlights from a much longer list):
Abyssinia, Aveda, Corabella, Endsley, Julivette, Misk, Nevaehtnes, Polaris, Shiphrah, Vidula, Wengel, Zealand

(See the top boy name debuts of 2010.)

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri

Baby names of Antarctica: Solveig, Emilio, Juan, Gisella

Only a handful of babies have been born on Antarctica. Ever wonder what their names are?

Me too. So I looked them up.

First I should mention Solveig Gunbjørg Jacobsen, a Norwegian baby girl who was born on South Georgia Island on October 8, 1913. She wasn’t the first baby born on Antarctica itself, but she was the first baby born in the southern polar region.

The first true Antarctican baby was Emilio Marcos de Palma, born at Argentine research station Esperanza Base in Hope Bay, Trinity Peninsula, Antarctica, on January 7, 1978.

Silvia Morella de Palma, the wife of Esperanza’s station leader, was flown in when she was seven months pregnant. The idea was to claim sovereignty by giving birth to the first native-born Antarctican.

Over the next five years, seven more babies were born at Esperanza Base, but I haven’t had any luck tracking down their names.

But — given the “historical rivalry between Chile and Argentina” — you can bet that Chile wasn’t going to be far behind on this. The only other civilian settlement in Antarctica, Villa Las Estrellas, located on a Chilean military base on King George Island, welcomed its first baby, Juan Pablo Camacho, in 1984.

Nicknaming him “the penguin,” [military officials in General Pinochet’s government] contended that he was the first baby conceived and born in Antarctica, drawing a contrast to Argentines born to mothers who might have given birth in Antarctica but became pregnant elsewhere.

Two more babies (one named Gisella) have since been born at Villa Las Estrellas.

If you happen to know the names/nationalities of any of the other Antarctican babies, please leave a comment!

P.S. Babies born on the other side of the world — in the Arctic — include Charlie Polaris, Marie Ahnighito, and Karina.

Sources:

Image: Argentinian station Esperanza by Samuel Blanc under CC BY-SA 3.0.