What gave the baby name Mindy a boost in 1979?

The character Mindy McConnell from the TV series "Mork & Mindy" (1978-1982)
Mindy McConnell from “Mork & Mindy“

According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Mindy reached the girls’ top 100 for the first and only time in 1979:

  • 1981: 1,827 baby girls named Mindy [rank: 155th]
  • 1980: 2,262 baby girls named Mindy [rank: 131st]
  • 1979: 3,712 baby girls named Mindy [rank: 81st]
  • 1978: 1,593 baby girls named Mindy [rank: 170th]
  • 1977: 1,235 baby girls named Mindy [rank: 205th]

Here’s a visual:

Graph of the usage of the baby name Mindy in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Mindy

What caused that spike in usage?

My guess is the sitcom Mork & Mindy, which premiered in September of 1978.

Character Mindy McConnell (played by Pam Dawber) was a young woman who lived in Boulder, Colorado, and worked at her family’s music store on the Pearl Street Mall (which was relatively new at that time).

During the first episode of the show, Mindy encountered and befriended a zany extraterrestrial named Mork (played by Robin Williams). She offered to help him fit in on Earth if he would teach her more about his home planet, Ork.

Mork from Ork had actually been introduced to TV audiences earlier that year, in a February episode of Happy Days. The alien character proved so popular that a whole new series, Mork & Mindy, was created to showcase Robin Williams’ comedic talent.

What are your thoughts on name Mindy?

P.S. Two other Happy Days spin-offs, Out of the Blue and Joanie Loves Chachi, also influenced U.S. baby names…

Sources: Mork & Mindy – Wikipedia, SSA

Image: Screenshot of Mork & Mindy

What gave the baby name Shandi a boost in 2004?

Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004
Shandi Finnessey

The baby name Shandi has been on the decline since the 1980s (when it was most popular). Despite this trend, usage of the name more than doubled in 2004:

  • 2006: 22 baby girls named Shandi
  • 2005: 24 baby girls named Shandi
  • 2004: 29 baby girls named Shandi
  • 2003: 14 baby girls named Shandi
  • 2002: 13 baby girls named Shandi

Why?

I think there are two reasons.

First, there’s aspiring model Shandi Sullivan.

Sullivan was a contestant on the second season of reality TV competition series America’s Next Top Model, which aired during the first three months of 2004. She lasted until the final episode, but ultimately came in third (behind Yoanna and Mercedes).

America's Next Top Model contestant Shandi Sullivan
Shandi Sullivan

Second, there’s beauty queen Shandi Finnessey.

In April of 2004, Finnessey was crowned Miss USA in front of a television audience of about 13 million viewers. She was the first delegate from Missouri to win the title. Several weeks later, at the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador, she placed first runner-up (behind Jennifer Hawkins of Australia).

Which of the two Shandis do you think had more of an influence on the name?

What are your thoughts on the name itself?

P.S. The delegate representing Israel at Miss Universe 2004 was none other than future Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot.

Sources:

Images: Screenshots of the TV broadcast of the 53rd Miss Universe pageant and America’s Next Top Model

Where did the baby name Cymphonique come from in 2012?

Actress Cymphonique Miller in the title sequence of the TV series "How to Rock" (2012)
Cymphonique Miller

The unique name Cymphonique appeared in the U.S. baby name data twice in the early 2010s, then dropped back below the SSA’s five-baby threshold:

  • 2014: unlisted
  • 2013: 7 baby girls named Cymphonique
  • 2012: 5 baby girls named Cymphonique [debut]
  • 2011: unlisted
  • 2010: unlisted

Where did it come from?

Teenage singer and actress Cymphonique Miller.

She was the star of the music-focused Nickelodeon sitcom How to Rock, which aired in its entirety during 2012 (from February to December). Her character, Kacey Simon, was both a high school student and the lead vocalist of a pop band called Gravity 5.

Cymphonique also co-wrote and sang the show’s theme song, “Only You Can Be You.”

Cymphonique Miller is the daughter of rapper Master P (born Percy Miller) and niece of rapper Silkk The Shocker (born Vyshonn Miller, probably).

Her half-brother, Percy Miller, Jr., became famous as pre-teen rapper Lil’ Romeo in the early 2000s. In fact, the baby name Romeo saw an uptick in usage in 2001 thanks to Lil’ Romeo’s biggest hit, “My Baby,” which reached #3 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in June of that year.

What are your thoughts on the name Cymphonique?

Sources:

Image: Screenshot of How to Rock

Where did the baby name Jexi come from in 2020?

The digital assistant Jexi from the movie "Jexi" (2019)
“Hello, my name is Jexi.”

The rare name Jexi has popped up in the U.S. baby name data just once so far, in 2020:

  • 2022: unlisted
  • 2021: unlisted
  • 2020: 5 baby girls named Jexi [debut]
  • 2019: unlisted
  • 2018: unlisted

Where did it come from?

The romantic comedy Jexi, which was released in October of 2019.

The movie’s main (human) character was a socially awkward, technology-addicted nerd named Phil (played by Adam DeVine).

Its main non-human character, Jexi, was the digital assistant on Phil’s new smartphone.

Unlike Siri and Alexa, Jexi (voiced by Rose Byrne) had both a personality and a mission. She was pushy, raunchy, and specifically programmed to make Phil’s life better. For instance, Jexi “order[ed] kale salad instead of pork noodles for takeout,” and sent an e-mail to Phil’s boss demanding a promotion.

Thanks to Jexi, Phil’s life did begin improving. He made new friends, and even started dating. But Jexi — who had fallen for Phil, improbably — became jealous of Phil’s new romantic interest, and started acting out…

What are your thoughts on the baby name Jexi?

Sources: Jexi – Wikipedia, Jexi review – Variety, Jexi review – Roger Ebert, SSA

Image: Screenshot of Jexi