What's in a name? Unfortunately, when 45 percent of adults in America say celebrity endorsements have an influence on their feelings, a whole lot of sycophancy. Using the Social Security Administration's baby name database, we've found even more evidence to support a theory we've had for a while now: many people are malleable to a fault and willing to make major life decisions based on what's popular.
For instance, in 1991, just one year after Mariah Carey released her debut, self-titled album, Mariah was the 69th most popular girl's name in the US, an appreciable jump from its position in 1989: 563. In 2005, Angelina was the 43rd most popular girl's name; it had been 304th in 1995. Kiefer debuted at 854 in the 1990 rankings of the top 1,000 boy names; two years prior, actor Kiefer Sutherland had starred as a heroic cowboy in Young Guns. Beyonce made its first and only appearance at the 700 spot in 2001.
Of course, as you well know, pop culture won't always positively shift the public opinion. In 2007, about a year after the release of the now-canonical gay film Brokeback Mountain, the name Heath dropped from 778 to 905. In 1989, Lisa was the 55th most popular girl's name in America. That year The Simpsons debuted, and Lisa has lost popularity ever since. In 2007 it was ranked 573rd.
Not at all in the top 1,000 names in the last 100 years: Barf, Cord and Apple.


