A month or so ago, I pulled up behind a large black SUV at a traffic light. The stick figure family, I observed, reached halfway across the back window.
According to the stickers, the family consisted of Mom, Dad, two girls, two boys, a dog, a cat, and a turtle.
The vehicle was seriously dirty. It was covered in a uniform, yellowy-orangish layer that was a mixture of (1) Georgia red clay, which, when dry, is as fine as baby powder and adheres nicely to waxed metal, and (2) pine pollen, which was afflicting us at the time.
Written in the thick coating on the back window, clearly by different fingers, were four names: Kaylan, Shiloh, Holder, and Pruitt.
Fine names all, but more to the point, they reminded me of how American baby names have evolved over the years.
For example, consider the names a few generations ago of my Dad and his siblings. They were Walter Anthony, James Allan, John Daniel, and Martha Elizabeth.
Dad’s kids: Walter Allan, Frank Lee, Thomas Daniel, and Helen Elizabeth.
My kids: Britt David and Dustin Drew.
Their kids: Kathryn Sierra, Kelsey Elizabeth, Madeleine Grace, and Sarah Rose.
All in all, a mixture of the classic and the popular. You can see the evolution of name choices in this one family.
Seeing the names on the back of the SUV got me curious, so I Googled the subject. Below is the official list (from Social Security records) of the most common American baby names over the years.
1945
James, Robert, John, William, Richard
Mary, Linda, Barbara, Patricia, Carol
1955
Michael, David, James, Robert, John
Mary, Deborah, Linda, Debra, Susan
1965
Michael, John, David, James, Robert
Lisa, Mary, Karen, Kimberly, Susan
1975
Michael, Jason, Christopher, James, David
Jennifer, Amy, Heather, Melissa, Angela
1985
Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel
Jessica, Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda, Sarah
1995
Michael, Matthew, Christopher, Jacob, Joshua
Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, Sarah
2005
Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail, Olivia
2015
Liam, Noah, Mason, Ethan, Logan
Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Isabella
—————-
A few last random points about names…
— I always liked the name Brandi, but I didn’t have a daughter.
— My granddaughters have pals named Sophia, Isabella, Olivia, and Madison.
— The boys who live next door to me are Eli and Aiden.
— Among my childhood friends were Claude Lumpkin and Merwyn Lassiter.
— My dad grew up with a kid named Gober Soseby.
— The name Walter is no prize, but at least it isn’t Claude, Merwyn, or Gober.
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