[Facts] Popularity of Amit and Angelique
I have been looking at the US popularity data for the name Amit.
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/amit/us?viewing=graph
In 1978 it was ranked at #994. Prior to that it was not in the Top 1000.
It continued to rise then peaked at #746 in 1983.
Then it fell and by 1986 it was no longer in the Top 1000.
It reappeared at #959 in 1987, but never made the Top 1000 again after.
I'm curious - is there any discernible reason for Amit's sudden spike in popularity? I've looked at Wikipedia for famous people with the name, but I can't see why any would be especially popular in America at that time.
Another name I'm curious about is the French Angelique (Angélique?).
http://www.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=angelique
It first appeared in the US Top 1000 in 1961. Since then its popularity has gone up and down sporadically. Does anyone have insight on how it was introduced to America (e.g a character in a film or TV show)? And is there any reason for its sudden hikes and falls in popularity?
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/amit/us?viewing=graph
In 1978 it was ranked at #994. Prior to that it was not in the Top 1000.
It continued to rise then peaked at #746 in 1983.
Then it fell and by 1986 it was no longer in the Top 1000.
It reappeared at #959 in 1987, but never made the Top 1000 again after.
I'm curious - is there any discernible reason for Amit's sudden spike in popularity? I've looked at Wikipedia for famous people with the name, but I can't see why any would be especially popular in America at that time.
Another name I'm curious about is the French Angelique (Angélique?).
http://www.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=angelique
It first appeared in the US Top 1000 in 1961. Since then its popularity has gone up and down sporadically. Does anyone have insight on how it was introduced to America (e.g a character in a film or TV show)? And is there any reason for its sudden hikes and falls in popularity?
Replies
Angelique had a sudden rise in the 60s here in Sweden as well, and I'm quite sure that was because of the then popular Angélique book series by Sergeanne Golon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelique_(series)). I don't know if they were popular in the US as well, but it seems likely.
Wow, interesting. Considering the novels had a film series it definitely seems plausible. Thanks!
I would think that Amit's popularity had something to do with Indian singer and film star Amit Kumar, whose career seems to have taken off at about that time. Immigrants from South Asia in the USA still pay a lot of attention to Bollywood films and these influence their name choices.
http://www.amitkumarfanclub.com/index.php
Angelique's original popularity was probably just as a "different but not too different" alternative for Angela. Its bump up in 1992 was perhaps affected by the characters called Angelique Collins on the "Dark Shadows" remake and Angelique Marick on the daytime soap opera "All My Children", along with the worldwide release of singer Angelique Kidjo's first hit album.
http://www.kidjo.com/
http://darkshadows-resurrected.com/
http://www.amitkumarfanclub.com/index.php
Angelique's original popularity was probably just as a "different but not too different" alternative for Angela. Its bump up in 1992 was perhaps affected by the characters called Angelique Collins on the "Dark Shadows" remake and Angelique Marick on the daytime soap opera "All My Children", along with the worldwide release of singer Angelique Kidjo's first hit album.
http://www.kidjo.com/
http://darkshadows-resurrected.com/