July 24, 2015

"Few popular girls' names have had a sharper increase in popularity than Paisley."

"Less than a decade ago, Paisley was effectively unused. It debuted within the top 1,000 newborn female names in 2006 at 831."
Just a few years later, the name had jumped to 72nd in 2014, when it was more popular than ever. Parents who choose the name may be thinking of the Scottish village, or the floral pattern of the same name with Persian roots.
I'd be thinking: "Paisley Park is in your heart."

26 comments:

Chris N said...

I'm thinking post-boomer, hippie inflected type name sanitized enough for mass appeal. I could hear it in a Whole Foods in the Valley, and maybe even a Wal Mart in Chico.

'Dylan Paisley, get over her and help your Dad pay his taxes.'

Tank said...

Could be the love for country music and Brad Paisley?

Chris N said...

'Here'

'Paisley Madison Cooper Riley' you're not going to be a lawyer if keep this up, young lady. You won't even be a meter maid. You'll be a deputized sanitation worker rummaging through other people's trash looking for plastics.

'Is that what you want?'

Chris N said...

It's clear to me now I've been on the West coast for too long.

Etienne said...

"A sublime pattern, you never tire of seeing."

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I have a friend whose child is named Paisley. She's four, so dead center on trend.

It's just another entry in the eternal quest for "bell-tone" names--usually invented--that have two syllables and end in -ly. Look at the rise of the invented name Kaylee/Kaileigh/Cailee etc (all three spellings actual people in my world btw) and ones like it. I also know little girls named Anslee, Aynslee, and Cambrie. Could come up with more if I thought about it.

None of those Paisley parents are naming their children after the Scottish village or the fabric design. I'd be surprised if most of them are aware of either.

Bob Boyd said...

I'd be willing to bet more Americans have blown their nose into paisley than any other pattern.

buwaya said...

I'm waiting for Urraca to get popular again.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

It's just another entry in the eternal quest for "bell-tone" names--usually invented--that have two syllables and end in -ly.

Reminds met of the white trash names from Ted.

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laslo Spatula said...

This name will cross over into strippers very quickly.

I shall check and keep you posted.


I am Laslo.

TCR James said...

Also the name of the violence-instigating protestant supremacist leader in Northern Ireland, the auld sod's own version of Jack T. Chick, Ian Paisley, if you're keeping score at home.

M Jordan said...

Why is it that trailer park names just sound trailer park?

Paisley? Ugh.

Laslo Spatula said...

Speaking of Paisley Park: some names of women who have recorded with Prince:

Vanity
Apollonia
Ingrid
Sheena
Sheila
Cat
Candy
Carmen
Rosie
Mayte
Martika
Tamar
Bria
Taja
Elisa

Also: Wendy and Lisa, although those seem quite boring now.

New parents, put on your Raspberry Berets and choose away...


I am Laslo.

Anonymous said...

I had a friend in high school who would get high on LSD, and he always talked about the paisleys he saw....He even did artwork using paisleys!

Rae said...

The Prince song is the first thing I thought of, too. But I suppose that's a generational thing. My second thought was that all the good stripper names must be taken.

Laslo Spatula said...

"Speaking of Paisley Park: some names of women who have recorded with Prince"

This information can be used for the game "How Prince are you?"

This is devised by how many of those names have belonged to women you have had sex with.

I'm still looking for a 'Martika'.


I am Laslo.

Laslo Spatula said...

Vanity. Okay with anal.


Apollonia. Likes anal.


Ingrid. Anal on rare occasions.


Sheena. Dislikes anal; needs to be drunk-ish.


Sheila: Will have anal after you tell her she is acting too much like her mother.


Cat. Loves anal. Have to call her "Kitty Cat'.


Candy. A gift of flowers brings anal. Cheerleader uniform, sometimes.


Carmen. Hesitant about anal, but willing after watching a foreign film.


Rosie. Rosie? What do you think?


Mayte.Anal, but with eyes always closed.


Martika. Anal. Always anal. Anal, anal, anal. Anal.


Tamar: Anal. Also: likes ass slapped.


Bria: Anal depends on how her evening at the strip club went.


Taja: Anal depends on how her morning at the strip club went.


Elisa: Anal depends on how her afternoon at the Women's Rights Support Group went.

Wendy and Lisa: Anal. Mostly because Martika has talked them into it with a strap-on dildo. Girls will be girls.


I am Laslo.

Bob Boyd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bob Boyd said...


Most people don't get to pick their own names.
Some do. Do they choose better than their parents?

The top 10 most popular transsexual names of 2010 according to the internets.

Female to Male
1. Victor
2. Brick
3. Achilles
4. Boris
5. Roman
6. Stig
7. Wolf
8. Manly
9. Conan
10. Homer

Female to Male
1. Trixie-Belle
2. Morgana
3. Pixie-Frou-Frou
4. Talulah
5. Florence
6. Emily
7. Rebecca
8. Rowena
9. Tiffany
10. Dolores


Bob Boyd said...

The 2nd list obviously should be labeled 'Male to Female'

Birches said...

There's not just the "ly" names; there's also all the "en" names: Ashton, Hayden, Payton, Rowyn, Brooklyn, etc.

I hate most of the hipster baby names many of my children's classmates are named.

Static Ping said...

Like Tank, Brad Paisley was the first to come to mind. His first platinum album was released in 2003 so it fits the time frame.

It would be interesting to see if the name gained popularity in "flyover country" first.

natatomic said...

I hate - HATE - this name. I'm currently expecting my first daughter, so I've been pouring over baby girl names, and I cringe every time I come upon this one. I don't know what it is, but the sound of the name is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Nevaeh is equally horrible, too. (That's "Heaven" spelled backwards, for those of you who have been lucky enough to not come across this name yet. Although, it's even worse when it's spelled Neveah, since it's no longer Heaven backwards, which is supposed to be the point.)

buwaya said...

Urraca needs a comeback.
Lots and lots of Spanish princesses.
Not much used in the last 1000 years but if any name is due, its this one.

Bilwick said...

Instead of naming your kid "Paisley," just wear a t-shirt that says: "I'm a trendy idiot."