How popular is the baby name Saul 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 Saul.

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Popularity of the baby name Saul


Posts that mention the name Saul

Where did the baby name Iyanla come from in 1998?

Iyanla Vanzant on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (Aug. 1999)
Iyanla Vanzant on “The Oprah Winfrey Show

The curious name Iyanla first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1998:

  • 2000: 41 baby girls named Iyanla
  • 1999: 49 baby girls named Iyanla
  • 1998: 10 baby girls named Iyanla [debut]
  • 1997: unlisted
  • 1996: unlisted

Where did it come from?

Self-help expert Iyanla (pronounced ee-YAHN-lah) Vanzant, who was featured on 20 episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1998 to 1999.

According to Oprah.com, Iyanla doled out “some of the best no-nonsense, hard-hitting advice Oprah had ever heard.”

Iyanla’s humorous style and life-changing advice struck a chord with women everywhere. Her message was simple: To live better, you’ve got to love yourself.

She went on to host two of her own talk shows, the most successful of which, Iyanla: Fix My Life, aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) from 2012 to 2021.

Iyanla’s birth name was Rhonda Eva Harris. In her late 20s, she decided to reinvent herself — and adopt a new name, to symbolize her new life. Here’s how she tells the story:

Like Saul on the road to Damascus, I too had a spiritual awakening. Saul became Paul, and Rhonda became Iyanla, which, in the language of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, means “great mother.” It’s not even a name, it’s a title — it’s a title with a purpose.

The Yoruban title Ìyá nlá is made up of the words ìyá, meaning “mother,” and nlá, meaning “big, large.”

What are your thoughts on the name Iyanla?

Sources: Iyanla Vanzant – Wikipedia, Iyanla Vanzant Returns to The Oprah Show – Oprah.com, Iyanla Explains The Origin Of Her Name – Oprah.com [vid], SSA

Image: Screenshot of The Oprah Winfrey Show

Baby names that re-emerged most impressively in the U.S. data, 1882 to today

young leaves

We know which names debuted most impressively in the U.S. baby name data, but what about the baby names that returned most impressively? That is, the names that re-emerged in the data (after an absence of at least one year) with the highest number of babies?

Below are the most popular re-emerging names for every single year on record, after the second.

Here’s the format: Girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the numbers represent single-year usage (following an absence). In 1971, for instance, the girl name Devonia returned to the data with 22 babies, and the boy name Idris returned to the data with 21 babies.

1880s

  • 1882: Harry, 14; Saul, 15
  • 1883: Luna, 17; Anna, 20
  • 1884: Eulalia & Margaretta, 15; Billie, 18
  • 1885: Philomene, 13; Kirby & Lamar, 14
  • 1886: Ammie, Attie, Drusilla, Eulalia & Narcissus, 14; Emmit & Ivy, 15
  • 1887: Idell, 12; Benjaman, 13
  • 1888: Guadalupe, 18; Hunter, 16
  • 1889: Leonie, 21; Leander, 22

1890s

  • 1890: Delila, Hildegarde & Sabra, 17; Buford, Loyal & Pleasant, 13
  • 1891: Marvel, 15; Roswell, 20
  • 1892: Jennette, 16; Vernie, 15
  • 1893: Byrd & Corda, 16; Salvatore, 14
  • 1894: Mozelle, 15; Essie, 18
  • 1895: Consuelo, 16; Adelard, 16
  • 1896: Dorris, 17; Bertrand & Hilliard, 16
  • 1897: Coletta & Marilla, 13; Gale, Harve & Odell, 13
  • 1898: Vlasta, 16; Oakley, 16
  • 1899: Gwen & Velda, 15; Ivory, 14

1900s

  • 1900: Ammie, 21; Lonzo, 22
  • 1901: Alvera, 17; Ernesto, 11
  • 1902: Hermine, 17; Junious, 20
  • 1903: Genie, 17: Lesley, 17
  • 1904: Laurel & Santa, 16; Caesar, 15
  • 1905: Ellar, 15; Cicero & Quincy, 15
  • 1906: Osa, 18; Craig & Tracy, 16
  • 1907: Joanne, 19; Gale, 15
  • 1908: Merna, 18; Andres, 19
  • 1909: Aili, 22; Loy, 22

1910s

  • 1910: Corean, 21; Lou, 18
  • 1911: Aune, 17; Ozie, 17
  • 1912: Veryl, 21; Arvin, 21
  • 1913: Loise, 25; Magnus, 15
  • 1914: Rema, 23; Elio, 18
  • 1915: Alleyne & Cledith, 20; Reyes, 24
  • 1916: Ercelle & Fayette, 14; Pleas, 25
  • 1917: Lowell, Mazelle & Patria, 16; Woodruff, 18
  • 1918: Victory, 78; Everitt, 19
  • 1919: Lanell, 16; Olney, 21

1920s

  • 1920: Iline & Keitha, 18; Heath, 19
  • 1921: Gilberte & Jacklyn, 16; Donold, 16
  • 1922: Basilia & Glayds, 15; Jw, 17
  • 1923: Marvene, 18; Silvestre, 19
  • 1924: Willadeen, 35; Delno, 19
  • 1925: Noralee, 20; Primitivo, 16
  • 1926: Sondra, 20; Torao, 27
  • 1927: Elga & Lindy, 27; Shoji, 81
  • 1928: Remona, 22; Windle, 17
  • 1929: Darla, 19; Davy, 25

1930s

  • 1930: Evalene, 17; Anastasio, 17
  • 1931: Marilyne, 17; Meliton, 15
  • 1932: Maribelle & Wynne, 16; Jacqueline, 18
  • 1933: Sheryl, 24; Lanny, 24
  • 1934: Carolynne & Viona, 15; Filiberto, 20
  • 1935: Vanessa, 32; Kenley, 29
  • 1936: Ardene & Lucienne, 18; Domenico, 15
  • 1937: Nadeen, 19; Lavell, 19
  • 1938: Josette, 44; Bertil & Jerol, 18
  • 1939: Charmayne, 18; Wilborn, 15

(The Social Security Administration’s baby name data isn’t perfect, but it does get a lot more accurate starting in the late 1930s because, according to the SSA, “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data.”)

1940s

  • 1940: Wendell, 25; Wilkie, 61
  • 1941: Aloma, 47; Maximo, 16
  • 1942: Victory, 51; Corey, 27
  • 1943: Corliss, 44; Amando & Cheryl, 16
  • 1944: Drenda, 50; Ruperto, 16
  • 1945: Drena, 37; Arie, 16
  • 1946: Cherylene, 56; Cliffton, 17
  • 1947: Asenath, 32; Baltazar, 20
  • 1948: Valli, 45; Carley, 15
  • 1949: Lark, 66; Buel, Dennison & Nehemiah, 18

1950s

  • 1950: Jasmine, 24; Jory, 52
  • 1951: Vendetta, 48; Alfonzia, Clell, Rondy, Ulysee & Vander, 15
  • 1952: Whitney, 20; Adlai, 40
  • 1953: Lugene, 30; Kervin, 18
  • 1954: Jyl, 80; Rahn, 66
  • 1955: Danni, 49; Teri, 17
  • 1956: Kirsti & Skye, 29; Timonthy, 21
  • 1957: Tammara, 38; Creed, 20
  • 1958: Elfreda, 33; Yancy, 24
  • 1959: Torrie, 42; Kym, 41

1960s

  • 1960: Pollyanna, 21; Armon & Delray, 20
  • 1961: Marnita, 145; Cord, 45
  • 1962: Anetta & Colinda, 18; Buckley, 18
  • 1963: Michaelann, 30; Georgie & Jerrod, 19
  • 1964: Djuana, 190; Destry, 149
  • 1965: Virna, 38; Horatio, 17
  • 1966: Tamatha, 222; Trevin, 21
  • 1967: Millette, 68; Arnel, Keary, Ky & Ricco, 15
  • 1968: Neely, 40; Griffith, Kacy & Troyce, 16
  • 1969: Francelia, 23; Darrius, 18

1970s

  • 1970: Telisha & Zenja, 26; Germaine, 29
  • 1971: Devonia, 22; Idris, 21
  • 1972: Contina, 209; Keelan, 20
  • 1973: Shenika, 33; Bram, 19
  • 1974: Seandra, 31; Reuven, 18
  • 1975: Mandee, 74; Jermale, 19
  • 1976: Niya, 97; Askia, 21
  • 1977: Kizzie, 286; Kenta, 48
  • 1978: Kylene, 88; Kodi, 41
  • 1979: Ranada, 37; Emmet, 19

1980s

  • 1980: Hanni, 34; Lando, 25
  • 1981: Jennilee, 37; Tristen, 21
  • 1982: Terran, 27; Ryne, 31
  • 1983: Yomaira, 45; Drue, 16
  • 1984: Leonela, 46; Catlin, 57
  • 1985: Sharda, 70; Justn, 23
  • 1986: Faren, 85; Adison, 21
  • 1987: Conchetta, 42; Najee, 50
  • 1988: Brogan, 36; Nikko, 59
  • 1989: Kyara, 65; Rishawn, 42

1990s

  • 1990: Tichina, 25; Telvin, 47
  • 1991: Bronte, 48; Dilon, 21
  • 1992: Oneisha, 39; Levonte, 32
  • 1993: Amairany, 41; Adonnis, 23
  • 1994: Marimar, 101; Corliss, 22
  • 1995: Shatasha, 26; Tryston, 42
  • 1996: Karrington, 34; Tysheem, 20
  • 1997: Neyda, 35; Voshon, 32
  • 1998: Arrion, 29; Amere, 29
  • 1999: Karyme, 40; Neo, 24

2000s

  • 2000: Laisa, 36; Perrion, 41
  • 2001: Torrance, 40; Andrik, 46
  • 2002: Naydelin, 58; Bode, 131
  • 2003: Princesa, 70; Anden, 41
  • 2004: Jenascia, 70; Cabot, 29
  • 2005: Jolette, 258; Greco, 40
  • 2006: Akeelah, 403; Corde, 51
  • 2007: Ambrielle, 46; Osmel, 29
  • 2008: Allysson, 61; Rohaan, 18
  • 2009: Ailea, 57; Kipton, 60

2010s

  • 2010: Solara, 40; Dyland, 67
  • 2011: Harnoor, 24; Dakhari, 18
  • 2012: Hareem, 54; Lio & Wayden, 19
  • 2013: Tahiry, 112; Zylen, 27
  • 2014: Yazaira, 42; Alyan, 22
  • 2015: Pihu, 19; Jonael, 232
  • 2016: Yurani, 97; Jru, 31
  • 2017: Brennley, 56; Noriel, 50
  • 2018: Roselyne, 87; Torryn, 31
  • 2019: Yameli, 49; Amyas, 21

2020s

  • 2020: Elleri, 34; Dutton, 27
  • 2021: Josiane, 41; Elkin, 21
  • 2022: Thena, 25; Kymeir, 23
  • 2023: Lylla, 59; Yamari, 55
  • 2024: Niamani, 49; Amai, 38

I’ve already written about some of these names, and I’ll write about others in the future. In the meantime, feel free to beat me to it! Leave a comment and let us know what popularized Jory in 1950, or Marnita in 1961, or Catlin in 1984…

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from First leaves Novosibirsk Siberia 24.04.2012 by Mikhail Koninin under CC BY 2.0.

[Latest update: May 2025]

Popular baby names in Mexico, 2020

Flag of Mexico
Flag of Mexico

Two years ago, the country of Mexico welcomed 1,629,211 babies.

What were the most popular names among these babies? Sofia and Santiago.

Here are Mexico’s top 50 girl names and top 50 boy names of 2020:

Girl names

  1. Sofia, 6,200 baby girls
  2. Maria Jose, 4,984
  3. Regina, 4,966
  4. Valentina, 4,905
  5. Camila, 4,688
  6. Ximena, 3,783
  7. Victoria, 3,654
  8. Renata, 3,417
  9. Maria Fernanda, 3,390
  10. Valeria, 3,272
  11. Natalia, 3,135
  12. Isabella, 2,997
  13. Romina, 2,934
  14. Daniela, 2,881
  15. Alexa, 2,490
  16. Ana Sofia, 2,406
  17. Andrea, 2,194
  18. Maria Guadalupe, 2,111
  19. Melissa, 2,093
  20. Fernanda, 2,075
  21. Samantha, 1,927
  22. Aitana, 1,910
  23. Elizabeth, 1,790
  24. Yamileth, 1,742
  25. Guadalupe, 1,720
  26. Mariana, 1,582
  27. Ana Victoria, 1,546
  28. Ana Paula, 1,517
  29. Fatima, 1,511
  30. Abigail, 1,480
  31. Emily, 1,459
  32. Julieta, 1,416
  33. Alejandra, 1,338
  34. Esmeralda, 1,311
  35. Vanessa, 1,289
  36. Estefania, 1,274
  37. Evelyn, 1,273
  38. Luciana, 1,252
  39. Jimena, 1,111
  40. Miranda, 1,058
  41. Lucia, 1,056
  42. Ivanna, 1,037
  43. Kimberly, 1,024
  44. Itzayana, 1,022
  45. Sofia Guadalupe, 1,020
  46. Carolina, 1,014
  47. Danna Sofia, 1,006
  48. Alondra, 961
  49. Aranza, 937
  50. Emma, 931

Boy names

  1. Santiago, 8,794 baby boys
  2. Mateo, 7,105
  3. Sebastian, 5,850
  4. Leonardo, 5,230
  5. Emiliano, 4,320
  6. Matias, 4,252
  7. Diego, 3,881
  8. Daniel, 3,747
  9. Miguel Angel, 3,571
  10. Alexander, 3,380
  11. Alejandro, 3,339
  12. Gael, 3,043
  13. Jesus, 3,021
  14. Angel, 2,637
  15. David, 2,551
  16. Emmanuel, 2,446
  17. Luis Angel, 2,417
  18. Rodrigo, 2,371
  19. Fernando, 2,359
  20. Maximiliano, 2,282
  21. Dylan, 2,258
  22. Jose Angel, 2,242
  23. Tadeo, 2,151
  24. Jose Luis, 2,139
  25. Gabriel, 2,016
  26. Eduardo, 2,012
  27. Juan Pablo, 1,972
  28. Rafael, 1,911
  29. Isaac, 1,845
  30. Samuel, 1,831
  31. Axel, 1,828
  32. Juan Carlos, 1,797
  33. Nicolas, 1,793
  34. Emilio, 1,792
  35. Jose Manuel, 1,683
  36. Damian, 1,658
  37. Leonel, 1,640
  38. Elias, 1,624
  39. Ricardo, 1,622
  40. Alexis, 1,618
  41. Adrian, 1,521
  42. Mauricio, 1,497
  43. Antonio, 1,481
  44. Alan, 1,480
  45. Jonathan, 1,477
  46. Francisco, 1,450
  47. Carlos, 1,432
  48. Angel Gabriel, 1,421
  49. Cristian, 1,404
  50. Javier, 1,402

The boys’ top 100 included Iker (57th), Uriel (61st), Saul (82nd), and Angel Gael (96th).

The girls’ top 100 included Samara (68th), Frida Sofia (75th), Estrella (85th), and Itzel (93rd).

And, a little father down on the girls’ list, we see Danna Paola (128th) and Amairani (292nd) — names associated with (and popularized by) the Mexican actresses Danna Paola and Amairani.

Source: Natalidad – INEGI

Image: Adapted from Flag of Mexico (public domain)

[Latest update: Aug. 2025]

Babies named for famous kings

king solomon image

A few months ago, I got an email from a reader who’d spotted an obituary for a man named “King David.” Even more intriguing, King David’s father’s name was “King Solomon.” The reader wondered what other famous kings had inspired similar first/middle name combinations.

Historical records reveal that, long before the name King became trendy in the 2000s, hundreds (perhaps thousands?) of people in America were given the first name “King.”

While most that I saw had middle names that didn’t create a special pairing (e.g., King Clyde, King Terry), a good number did have middle names that — whether intentionally or not — turned the pairing into the name of some historical, biblical, or legendary king.

Here are some of the pairings I spotted, plus links to a few examples:

King Alfred
King Arthur
King Asa
King Charles
King Edward
King Frederick
King George
King Henry
King Hezekiah
King James
King Josiah
King Louis
King Olaf
King Oscar
King Richard
King Saul

Several of these (Kingarthur, Kingcharles, Kingdavid, Kingjames, Kingjosiah, and Kingsolomon) also appear as compound names in the SSA data.

Do like the recent King-as-a-first-name trend? Why or why not?