September 6, 2024 - I have been told by my older relatives that I was still un-named a week after I was born. My aunt Margaret Woods apparently had pity on me, and finally gave me a name. My paternal grandmother was a Neal, so she hung that Sir name on me. I have wondered why my parents waited so long to give me a handle. Usually the expecting parents have a couple of names selected prior to the baby’s birth. It could have been that I was the last of three, so the new had already worn off by the time I came along as the caboose. I don’t think it is usual to name a caboose, so that may explain it.
Your name is an important part of you. Most people are proud of their names, but I have met some people who hated their handles. It is true that some couples delight in giving the new baby a name so difficult that he/she cannot learn to spell it correctly until reaching high school.
I did a little research on the names that have been popular down through the centuries. Following is a sample of popular American baby names through the years:
- 1587 – The first English colony, sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh, was established on Roanoke Island off North Carolina. Of the 109 male babies born, 23 were named John; 15 Thomas; and 10 William.
- 1619 – The first slaves arrived in Virginia and were renamed by their masters. By the 18th century, the names given to slaves were not normally those used for whites. The favorite names were Cicero, Jupiter, and Jemima.
- 1640 – It seems that the strict Puritan colonists combed the Old Testament for righteous names such as Abigail and Zedekiah. There were some virtue names like Temperance and Humility.
- 1892 – During these years names reflected the vogue for flower and gems, such as Rose, Daisy, Lillie, Pearl, and Ruby. These names were high on the list.
- 1935 – The young screen actress Shirley Temple was a hot commodity, Thus, Shirley was number two on the list as celebrities began to influence baby names.
- 1947 – As Irish Americans gain a foothold in mainstream society, Irish names like Brian, Ryan, and Kevin became quite popular.
- 1954 – Michael is the number one boy’s name, and would continue to be for 43 of the next 44 years.
- 1967 – Gender barriers blur as boys grow their hair long and names become unisex. The most popular were power names like Harmony, Sunshine, and Rainbow. Other popular names were Jamie, Jody, Stacey, and Tracy.
- 1969 – The crazy celebrity baby name phenomenon begins. Frank Zappa named his first son Dweezil, and his daughter Moon Unit.
- 1970 – The number one novel “Love Story” featured the tragic heroine Jennifer Cavilleri. Jennifer begins a 14 year reign at the top of the list.
- 1977 – The TV mini-series “Roots” launched a genealogy craze that inspired African American parents to look to African sources for new names.
- 1991 – The blue-turned-pink name Ashley hits number 1, and a new generation of feminist working moms favor such androgynous names for girls as Courtney, Whitney, Lindsey, Taylor, and Cameron.
- 1999 – Michael is knocked out of first place by Jacob, as Old Testament names regain favor among young parents.
- 2000 – Spiritual names take the lead inspired by Christian rock singer Sonny Sandoval. He announced on MTV the name of his new daughter, Nevaeh (heaven spelled backward), giving it a huge boost in popularity. Other popular spiritual names were Heaven, Genesis, and Trinity.
- 2009 – Barack Hussein Obama became president, presaging a new multicultural naming era and a slew of babies named Barack. Other popular names were Morgan, Whitney, and Brooklyn.
So went the trend of naming babies for several centuries. Did you spot your name anywhere? I did not find mine so I can assume that my Aunt Margaret used her own ingenuity and resourcefulness in selecting it. Thank you Aunt Margaret, wherever you are, for preventing me from being called “hey you”.
Interestingly enough, I recently received a telephone call from the man who unknowingly donated my name, Mr. Neal Baggett. He is now 96 years old, lives in a nursing home in Culver City, CA, and is very alert. I last saw him in person in 1946 when our family motored to the land of fruits and nuts to check in on some distant relatives. He remembered that visit – I didn’t.
