How popular is the baby name Sheba 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 Sheba.

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Popularity of the Baby Name Sheba


Posts that Mention the Name Sheba

Where did the baby name Durville come from in 1975?

Actor D'Urville Martin in the opening credits for the movie "Dolemite" (1975).
D’Urville Martin

The unique name Durville appeared in the U.S. baby name data for the first and only time in the mid-1970s:

  • 1977: unlisted
  • 1976: unlisted
  • 1975: 5 baby boys named Durville [debut]
  • 1974: unlisted
  • 1973: unlisted

What was the influence?

Actor D’Urville Martin, who’d been in movies (primarily in supporting roles) since the 1960s.

In the mid-1970s, he was appearing in various blaxploitation films such as The Get-Man (1974), Sheba, Baby (1975) and Dolemite (1975) — which he also directed.

D’Urville was born in New York City in 1939. So far I haven’t been able to track down the story behind his name, but I can tell you that it ultimately comes from a French surname that refers to any of several places in France called Urville.

What are your thoughts on D’Urville as a baby name?

What turned Shaft into a baby name?

Detail from the "Shaft" movie poster
Part of the “Shaft” movie poster

The very unusual name Shaft debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1971:

  • 1973: 16 baby boys named Shaft
  • 1972: 31 baby boys named Shaft
  • 1971: 22 baby boys named Shaft [debut]
  • 1970: unlisted
  • 1969: unlisted

Why?

Because of the 1971 movie Shaft, which introduced theatergoers to New York City-based private detective John Shaft (played by Richard Roundtree).

The film was based on a 1970 novel of the same name written by (white) journalist Ernest Tidyman:

[O]n April 27th, 1970, readers met John Shaft, a former thief and Vietnam veteran now working as a private detective — and soon to take on a case that would find him brushing up against the mob, the police, and a group of black militants. However unlikely its origins, Tidyman’s Shaft remains a brisk, convincing read. Deeply immersed in Shaft’s point of view, it’s filled with the protagonist’s conflicted, sometimes ugly…observations about early 70s New York.

The film’s memorable theme song, which could be heard during the opening credits, was written and performed by Isaac Hayes.

You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother- (Shut your mouth)
But I’m talkin’ about Shaft (Then we can dig it)

Later released as a single, the song reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in November of 1971 and won the Oscar for “Best Original Song” at the 44th Academy Awards (in April of ’72).

The first Shaft film was followed by a pair of sequels — Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973) — both of which also starred Roundtree.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Shaft?

Sources: Shaft (1971 film) – Wikipedia, The Unlikely, Gritty Origins of John Shaft, Isaac Hayes – Theme from Shaft Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

P.S. I’ve found other ’70s baby names inspired by blaxploitation films, but none are as shocking as Shaft. They include Coffy, Foxy and Sheba, inspired by the Pam Grier movies Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974) and Sheba, Baby (1975).