The name Casanova — made famous during the 18th century by Italian adventurer and womanizer Giacomo Casanova — started popping up in the U.S. baby name data in the mid-1980s. It saw a modest increase in usage a few years later:
- 1989: unlisted
- 1988: 14 baby boys named Casanova
- 1987: 11 baby boys named Casanova
- 1986: unlisted
The spelling variant Cassanova debuted around the same time, in 1987.
What was influencing these names?
The catchy song “Casanova” by R&B vocal trio LeVert. It was released in mid-1987 and peaked at #5 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. Though the group had multiple songs reach #1 on the R&B chart, “Casanova” was their strongest showing on the pop chart.
The group consisted of brothers Gerald and Sean LeVert — sons of O’Jays lead vocalist Eddie LeVert — and a third member, Marc Gordon.
Thanks to the success of the song, the French surname LeVert also saw its highest-ever usage in the late 1980s:
- 1989: 17 baby boys named Levert
- 1988: 19 baby boys named Levert [peak usage]
- 1987: 7 baby boys named Levert
- 1986: unlisted
- 1985: unlisted
(The surname is rendered “Levert” in the data because the SSA strips out internal capitalization.)
Getting back to Casanova, though…what are your thoughts on “Casanova” as a first name?
P.S. Another member of the O’Jays, Walter Williams, was behind the peak usage of Shalawn and Seandra in the mid-1970s.
Sources: LeVert – Wikpedia, SSA
