Lost in the flood of bad news is the continued unpopularity of the name Donald (Don, Donnie, Donny, The Donster et al). The last time Social Security released their list of baby names, May 10, 2019, the name had plummeted 39 places, from the 487th most popular to 526.
Only 533 baby boys went forth in 2018 down from 600 the previous year. What about 2019 you ask?
Doesn't Social Security release their list of baby names on the Friday before Mother's Day? Not this year.
Here is the cryptic statement issued by the agency on May 7 of this year.
Out of respect and honor for all people and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the announcement of the 2019 most popular baby names is being rescheduled to a to-be-determined date. The agency sends its gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everybody fighting the pandemic and providing vital services throughout the country during these difficult times.
I don't see the connection myself. Aren't babies being born? Don't they need names? Or is it more likely that the most famous (some would say notorious) Donald of all time doesn't want to acknowledge the decline of the name and his part in it.
Let's check the numbers. In 2015, Donald was the 443rd most popular name for baby boys. It has since plummeted 83 places in just 4 years.
This stain goes further than the Trump Presidency. Donald Trump came to public prominence with the publication of his book, The Art of the Deal. released in 1987 which stayed on the best seller list for 13 weeks.
In 1988, "Donald" was the 76th most popular name of US boy babies. Since Trump reached public consciousness, the name has declined 450 places. There were 4,323 baby Donalds born in 1988 compared to just 533 in 2018.
There are some who say that Donald is just a "traditional" name whose time has passed. Oh really. Let's look at some other traditional names.
1990s: Michael #1, James #13, David #12, Donald #135
2010s: Michael #7, James #9, David #17, Donald NOT IN TOP 200
Sure...there may be other explanations for the decline of Donald since 1988.
There is the 1998 Coen Brother's film, The Big Lebowski. whose character Theodore 'Donny' Kerabatsos, is a punch line for the oft repeated phrase, "shut the fuck up, Donny."
There have been other troubling name sakes that have dented the popularity of this once proud moniker.
Donald Regan: 1918-2003, CEO of Merril Lynch, Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff, Reagan Administration. Implicated with Trump in Contra Scandal.
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Donald Regan: 1918-2003, CEO of Merril Lynch, Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff, Reagan Administration. Implicated with Trump in Contra Scandal.
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| Donald Rumsfeld: born 1932, Secretary of Defense 74-77, 01-06. |
What do we believe? Rumsfeld and Cheney from the movie, Vice.
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| Don Imus 1914-2009, Radio Personality, Philanthropist, Racist |
How do we erase these stains and reclaim the name?
Here are some suggestions.
1. Register as a Non-Connected PAC to run anti-Trump campaign ads: Click here for online registration. It can cost up to 8 million dollars to produce an effective campaign ad.
2. Set up crowdfunding to spread the word.
Kickstarter
Indiegogo
GoFundme
I can envision t-shirts, mugs, watch caps, hand sanitizers, and masks all reading
Reclaim the Name...Donald
3. Subscribe to Don's Basement and keep hope alive.
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