July 18, 2002
Onomastication

Following up on what's been going on in the comments to the last post.

A check of the Stooges Name Index shows a rare case of Moe getting beaten by Larry; mysteriously, "Curly" doesn't even make the chart. Must be a glitch.

The trend in the rise of retro names in the 90's illustrated: Isaiah and Hannah.

And of course, everyone in my generation experienced the historical phenomenon known as The Jennifer Explosion.

Posted by BT at July 18, 2002 09:04 AM
Comments

I was once at a dinner party where exactly half of the women present were named Jennifer -- 5 of 10, if I recall correctly. Actually, one was named Jenny, that being her entire legal name. But still.

I call it the Jennifer Jeneration.

Posted by: scott on July 18, 2002 09:38 AM

For further study, the social security administration (tm)'s list of baby name frequency. In 1969, Jennifer was the second most popular name, behind Lisa. In 1970, Jennifer took the lead. Her reign was to last until 1985, when Jessica and Ashley nudged her from the top spot. Jennifer's popularity waned quickly thereafter, dropping a spot or two each year, and finally disappearing from the list entirely in 1993.

Jennifer, oh Jenny.

Posted by: scott on July 18, 2002 09:46 AM

Scott, your invocation of the De La Soul classic prompted me to search for the much-maligned Derwin.

Posted by: BT on July 18, 2002 10:09 AM

It occurs to me that the answers to the De La Soul quiz show sketch ("How many times did the Batmobile catch a flat?") are probably online somewhere.

Bill, when I click on your Jennifer Explosion link, I just get name results for Hannah, oddly.

Posted by: Gavin on July 18, 2002 10:36 AM

Thanks, Gavin- - fixed now.

Posted by: BT on July 18, 2002 11:33 AM

>> ("How many times did the Batmobile catch a flat?") are probably online somewhere.

I can't tell you this, but I have lovingly documented how to make a 180¡ turn.

Posted by: teenidol on July 18, 2002 03:09 PM