Texas-born politician Lyndon B. Johnson, who served as president of the United States from late 1963 to early 1969, influenced the popularity of the baby name Lyndon several times over the course of his life.
In 1941, the year he narrowly lost a U.S. Senate special election in Texas, the name Lyndon nearly doubled in usage:
| Boys named Lyndon (U.S.) | Boys named Lyndon (TX) | |
| 1943 | 102 (rank: 632nd) | 21 |
| 1942 | 78 (rank: 729th) | 22 |
| 1941 | 90 (rank: 645th) | 43 |
| 1940 | 46 (rank: 947th) | 8 |
| 1939 | 41 (rank: 1,000th) | 6 |
As you’d expect, most of that extra usage happened in the state of Texas.
In 1948, on his second try, Johnson narrowly won a seat in the U.S. Senate. (The unique first name of his opponent, Coke R. Stevenson, made its last appearance in the U.S. baby name data the same year.)
More than a decade later, when Senator Johnson was elected vice president as John F. Kennedy‘s running mate, the name saw another uptick:
- 1962: 148 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 635th)
- 1961: 207 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 548th)
- 1960: 246 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 506th)
- 1959: 193 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 559th)
- 1958: 161 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 606th)
Finally, in 1964, the name shot to peak popularity:
- 1966: 161 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 592nd)
- 1965: 306 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 444th)
- 1964: 514 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 347th)
- 1963: 176 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 594th)
- 1962: 148 baby boys named Lyndon (rank: 635th)
Here’s a visual:
This considerable increase in usage can be attributed to a pair of related events: Johnson assuming the presidency upon the assassination of Kennedy in November of 1963, and Johnson’s landslide victory in the presidential election of 1964.
Lyndon Baines Johnson was born to Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr., and Rebekah Johnson (née Baines) in 1908. Where did his first name come from? Here’s how he told the story:
I was three months old when I was named. My mother and father couldn’t agree on a name. The people my father liked were heavy drinkers — pretty rough for a city girl. She didn’t want me named after any of them.
Finally, there was a criminal lawyer — a county lawyer — named W. C. Linden. He would go on a drunk for a week after every case. My father liked him, and he wanted to name me after him. My mother didn’t care for the idea, but she said finally that it was all right; she would go along with it if she could spell the name the way she wanted to. So that was what happened.
Johnson’s two daughters, Lynda and Luci, were both married during their father’s presidency. The younger one, Luci, married in August of 1966 and the older one, Lynda, married in December of 1967. (Luci had a flower girl named Bader; Lynda had a bridesmaid called Trenny.)
What are your thoughts on the name Lyndon? (What spelling do you prefer?)
Sources:
- Lyndon B. Johnson – Wikipedia
- Beschloss, Michael. “Lyndon Johnson on the Record.” Texas Monthly Dec. 2001.
- SSA
Images: Adapted from Lyndon B. Johnson, photo portrait, leaning on chair, color and Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office (both public domain)
