Hello, and welcome back to the Reader Top Three series! Today I’ve used the SSA website to determine which three names for each gender were given to the least amount of babies in 2019. Therefore, these are the least used baby names in the US off the list given to me by my readers. Other names that don’t make the top 1000 yet also didn’t claim a spot on this list include vintage Maureen (43), sweet Nita (13), female Lincoln and Hudson (115,158), celestial Jupiter (26), cheerful Maddy (26), intriguing Amethyst (127), vintage Maud (16), adorable Angele (6), cool Zaydon (34), cute Maylie (31), and nickname-style Rafe (82). And let me tell you, the Name Warehouse readers came up with some pretty rare baby names. Let’s get into it!
Westly- Wesley is doing exceedingly well as a boy name in the US, a vintage delight that combines our love for -ley endings with an alternative to Gus and company, the friendly and accessible nickname Wes. With a -ley ending though, a sound that has captured the attention of parents looking for a name for their daughters, Wesley is bound to see some use for Team Pink as well, and he has, with 44 girls named Wesley in 2019 and 12 bearing the moniker Weslee. But Westly? Unheard of. By eliminating the possibility of the more masculine nickname Wes, Westly puts a feminine twist on Wesley. In the case of the reader who submitted this name, they decided to add Wren, another stylish and gender neutral choice.
Keridwen- There’s so many beautiful names and creative namers reading the Name Warehouse, and I am positively honored to have someone who has the same adoration for Welsh names as I do *swoon*. An alternative spelling of Ceridwen, Keridwen is slightly more phonetic. A gorgeous Welsh name that sounds particularly ethereal and striking, Keridwen has yet to be given to 5 baby girls, even with her original parent spelling added in. Keridwen lacks frills but truly resembles a fairy-like feeling. I believe that while there are a couple pronunciation hiccups, Keridwen is a beautifully stunning appellation for sure, and a lovely name for a little girl.
Serendipity- Why, with Serenity at a whopping #79, why can’t the slightly lengthy but equally tranquil and serene Serendipity cash in on the fun? With an element of bouncy and plucky youthfulness thanks to the -dipity yet the contrasting calmness and poise that accompanies the sweet beginning of Seren-, Serendipity feels like a name that can be worn by a shy, calm, sophisticated girl or a rambunctious child or a playful woman. And there’s always Sarah or Seren to hide behind if your daughter doesn’t appreciate the stunning rarity as much as you do, of course. Serendipity was given to exactly five little girls last year, ranking her at #18668, certainly an out-there option.
Clare- Huh? Clare? But I know, like three! You may be insisting through the screen. But this Clare was submitted as a boy name, which has yet to receive more than 5 young namesakes, which is the cutoff for when the SSA can show names for privacy purposes. Originating as a short form for Clarence, the Irish Clare went on to become mostly a feminine name, yet some men called Clare, while recently deceased, still remain in parent’s minds, including the late hockey coach Clare Drake, and musician Clare Fischer. Although the last generation of male Clares is fading, I still see the appeal of Clare as a nickname for Clarence (which I hope has a revival soon)!
Kermit- Actually submitted by the same reader as Clare, Kermit might turn a few heads with the thought of the frog at the front of people’s minds. Yet when the frog vanishes from mainstream pop culture, I can definitely see Kermit getting the revival he deserves. Another Irish boy name, Kermit comes as a variation of Dermot, which I personally don’t find as appealing from a sound standpoint in respect to today's baby naming trends. However, Kermit was used for 7 little baby boys in 2019, which isn’t much, but also is promising for the future of Kermit.
Bannon- Another submission from the reader who’s a fan of Clare and Kermit, Bannon is yet one more Irish name for a baby boy, and definitely the one I could see catching on the most of the boy names in this category. He has the familiarity in sound of Benjamin and Brennan, and was given to a total of 13 baby boys last year, which honestly surprises me. With such a mainstream sound yet low popularity, I would expect Bannon to be able to win over the hearts of far more parents. Absolutely one to consider if you want a rare name that doesn’t look or sound the part.
Well, that’s all for now. Thank you all for participating if you did, and I hope you enjoyed. I appreciate all of your help and support in both this series and the overall Name Warehouse. Happy 2021!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon