Baby Names from Early Jazz and Blues
by Brenna Lorenz
These are the
meanings and origins of names used in jazz, blues and hokum songs from
the first half of the 20th Century, as well as names used by the musicians
who wrote and performed this music.
Where available,
songs are linked to their lyrics. Links to information about the musicians
are also provided where possible.
I will be constantly
adding to this list of names, so check back frequently! If you are curious
about a jazz or blues name not already listed, e-mail
me.
Ada: (f) Germanic adal:
"noble," or a form of the Hebrew name, Adah: "adornment."
Alberta: (f) Germanic
adal
+ berht: "noble and bright."
Alexander: (m) From Greek alexein
+ aner: "defending men."
-
Famous song by Irving Berlin: Alexander's
Ragtime Band, the theme song of our Guam Public Radio program, Rags
to Rhythms!
Andy: (m) English diminutive
of Andrew, from the Greek root andr-: "man."
Benny, Bennie: (m) English diminutives
of Benjamin, from Hebrew ben + yamin: "son of the
south." A popular name for jazz artists:
-
Bennie Payne, pianist in Cab Calloway's
band;
-
Benny Carter, band leader, composer/arranger,
and multi-instrumentalist;
-
Benny Moten, Kansas City band leader,
composer and pianist.
-
Benny Goodman, famous for his clarinet;
a band leader.
Bessie: (f) English diminutive
of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'el + sheba: "God is my
oath."
Betty: (f) English diminutive
of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'el + sheba: "God is my
oath."
-
Betty
Boop, cartoon character based on singer/actress Helen Kane.
-
Song: Betty
Coed, sung by Rudy Vallee. This song is performed by Vallee in a Fleischer
cartoon of the same name.
Bill: (m) English diminutive
of William, from Germanic wil + helm: "will helmet."
-
Tap dancer, movie actor, jazz singer
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.
-
Louis Jordan performs the song Barnacle
Bill the Sailor. Betty Boop stars in a cartoon called Barnacle
Bill, in which a more complete version of the song is performed.
Blanche: (f) French blanche:
"white, a blonde."
Cab: (m) Diminutive of the surname
Cabell,
from Anglo-Norman French cable: "rope maker."
Caroline: (f) Feminine form
of Charles, Germanic ceorl: "a freeman." One of several state
names popular in the American South during the 19th Century.
-
Song: Virginia, Georgia, and Caroline,
performed by Cab Calloway.
Cecilia: (f) Latin sextus
or caecus: "sixth" or "blind:"
-
Song: Cecilia,
performed by Danny Small and Ukelele Mays, and by Whispering Jack Smith.
Clarence: (m) English name derived
from a Celtic river name.
Cleo: (f) Greek kleos:
"glory, fame."
Corinne: (f) Greek kore:
"maiden."
-
Corinne, performed by Frankie "Half-Pint"
Jaxon.
-
Corinne Blues, performed by Frankie
"Half-Pint" Jaxon.
-
Corinne
Corinna, performed by Cab Calloway.
Dan: (m) English diminutive
of Daniel, from Hebrew: "God is my judge."
Dinah: (f) Hebrew din:
"judgment."
-
Song: Dinah, performed by Cab Calloway,
Louis Armstrong, the Washboard Rhythm Kings.
Don: (m) English diminutive
of Donald, from Old Celtic dubno + val: "world rule."
-
Composer, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist,
vocalist, band leader, musical genius Don
Redman.
Doug: (m) English diminutive
of Douglas, from Gaelic dubh + glas: "black stream."
Eadie: (f) Diminutive of Edith,
from Old English ead + gyth: "wealth strife."
-
Song: Eadie Was a Lady, performed by
Cab Calloway.
Emaline: (f) English from Germanic
amal:
"work."
-
Song: Emaline,
performed by Cab Calloway.
Esther: (f) (Hebrew) "myrtle,"
or (Persian) "star."
Ethel: (f) Germanic ethel:
"noble."
Fan, Fanny: (f) English-French
diminutives of Frances, from Latin Franciscus: "French, a
Frank."
-
Song: San Francisco Fan, performed
by Cab Calloway.
-
Song: Collegiate
Fanny, performed by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra.
Flo: (f) English diminutive
of Flora or Florence, from Latin floris: "of flowers,
blossoming."
Frankie: (m) English diminutive
of Francis, from Latin Franciscus: "French, a Frank."
Georgia: (f) English feminine
form of George, from Greek georgos: "farmer." State names
were popular for girls in the southern United States in the 19th Century.
-
Sweet
Georgia Brown, performed by Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway, Benny Carter,
and just about everybody else!
-
Virginia, Georgia and Caroline, performed
by Cab Calloway.
Hagar: (f) A Biblical Hebrew
name meaning, "flight."
Hannah: (f) Hebrew: "He (God)
has favored me."
Harlan: (m) From an Old English
surname with elements hara + land: "from the land of hares."
-
Crooner with Don Redman's Orchestra,
Harlan Lattimore.
Harry: (m) English diminutive
of Henry, from Germanic haim + ric: "home ruler."
Helen: (f) From Greek helios:
"sun, ray of the sun, brilliant as the sun."
-
Flapper singer and actress Helen Kane,
the model for Betty Boop.
Inez: (f) Spanish form of Agnes,
from the Greek hagnos, "pure, holy."
Jack: (m) English diminutive
of John, from Hebrew: "God is gracious."
James: (m) English form of Jacob,
from Hebrew akev: "heel, one who seizes another by the heel, one
who takes the place of another."
-
Military jazz band leader and social
leader James Reese
Europe;
-
Composer and stride pianist James P.
Johnson.
Jasper: (m) Persian: "treasurer."
-
Down at Jasper's Bar-B-Que, performed
by Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon.
Jenny: (f) English diminutive
of Jean, a feminine form of John, from Hebrew: "God is gracious."
Jerry: (m, f) English diminutive
of Gerald, Geraldine, from Germanic ger + wald:
"spear rule."
Jim: (m) English diminutive
of James, English form of Jacob, from Hebrew akev:
"heel, one who seizes another by the heel, one who takes the place of another."
Jimmie, Jimmy: (m) English diminutive
of James, English form of Jacob, from Hebrew akev:
"heel, one who seizes another by the heel, one who takes the place of another."
Joe: (m) English diminutive
of Joseph, from Hebrew: "(God) shall add."
and several involving Cab Calloway's
character Smoky Joe, the gong-kicking boyfriend of Minnie the Moocher:
John: (m) Hebrew: "God is gracious."
Kate: (f) English diminutive
of Katherine, from Greek katheros: "pure."
Lena: (f) English diminutive
of Helena, from Greek helios: "sun, ray of the sun, brilliant
as the sun."
Lil: (f) English diminutive
of Lillian, derived from English lily: "the lily flower."
Liza: (f) English diminutive
of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'el + sheba: "God is my
oath."
Lize: (f) English diminutive
of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'el + sheba: "God is my
oath."
Lizzie: (f) English diminutive
of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'el + sheba: "God is my
oath."
Lou: (f) English diminutive
of Louise, from Germanic hlud + wig: "famous warrior."
Louis: (m) Germanic hlud
+ wig: "famous warrior."
Lucille: (f) From Latin lux:
"light."
-
Jazz and blues vocalist Lucille Hegamin.
Lucy: (f) From Latin lux:
"light."
-
Loud-Speakin' Papa, performed by Ethel
Waters, and by Danny Small and Ukulele Mays.
Mae: (f) A name derived from
many sources: a diminutive of Mary, Margaret, and Maeve,
and a month name.
-
Actress and jazz singer Mae West.
Malinda: Variant form of
Melinda,
from Greek, mel, "honey," with the popular -inda ending.
Mandy: (f) Diminutive of Amanda,
from Latin amanda: "lovable."
Margie: (f) English diminutive
of Margaret, from Greek margaron: "pearl."
-
Margie,
performed by Cab Calloway and Kate Smith.
Mary: (f) English form of Latin
stilla
maris: "drop of the sea."
May: (f) English diminutive
for Mary and Margaret, as well as a month name like April and June.
-
May
Alix, dynamic blues singer known for leaping off the stage and landing
in a split.
Melindy: (f) Variant form of
Melinda,
from Greek, mel, "honey," with the popular -inda ending.
-
In the song, Lindy
Hop, performed by Lil Hardin Armstrong, Melindy was a woman with an
enviable skill in the dance.
Mezzanine: (f) From Latin via
Italian medianus: "middle."
-
My
Gal Mezzanine, performed by Cab Calloway and Cleo Brown. This
song constitutes the only use we know of Mezzanine as a name of a person.
Mike: (m) English diminutive
of Michael, from Hebrew: "Who is like God?"
Mildred: (f) Old English, from
mild
and thyth, meaning "gentle strength."
Minnie: (f) English diminutive
of Wilhelmina, from Germanic wil + helm: "will helmet."
The character also appears in several
sequels, including:
Mirandy: (f) A variation
of Miranda, a name invented by Shakespeare, from Latin mirandus:
"admirable."
-
She is the highly admirable subject
of the song: Mirandy,
performed by James Reese Europe.
Molly: (f) An old diminutive
form of Mary.
-
The star of the song Hot Tamale Molly,
performed by Lucille Hegamin.
Mose: (m) English form of Moses,
from Egyptian mose: "born of, child of."
-
A ghostly figure in the song Mysterious
Mose. The song is performed in a Betty Boop cartoon of the same name.
Nan: (f) English diminutive
of Nancy, in turn a diminutive of Ann, from Hebrew: "He (God)
has favored me."
Noble: (m) English, from Latin
nobilis:
"noble."
Oscar: (m) Irish Gaelic os
+ cara: "deer friend."
-
Name of a gay man in the song Help,
probably inspired by the notorious trial of Oscar Wilde.
Phoebe: (f) From Greek phoibos:
"bright."
-
No Home Blues, performed by Louise
Ross.
Rosie: (f) Originally a Germanic
name meaning "horse," it has taken on the meaning "rose" from the English
world.
Sadie: (f) English diminutive
of Sarah, from Hebrew: "princess."
Sal, Sally: (f) English diminutives
of Sarah, from Hebrew: "princess."
Sam: (m) English diminutive
of Samuel, from Hebrew sha'ul me'el: "asked of God." Sam
is a common name in blues, hokum and jazz songs, often used for an undesirable
person, commonly with the surname Jones.
Sammy: (m) English diminutive
of Samuel, from Hebrew sha'ul me'el: "asked of God."
-
No Home Blues, performed by Louise
Ross.
Sandy: (m) English diminutive
of Alexander, from Greek alexein + aner: "defending
men."
-
Sandy is the lucky boyfriend of Mirandy
in the song Mirandy,
performed by James Reese Europe.
Susie, Suzie, Sue: (f) English
diminutives of Susan, from Hebrew shoshan: "lily."
-
Vaudeville singer Susie (Sue Hawthorn)
from the team Butterbeans and Susie.
-
Feature character of the song It
Looks Like Suzie, performed by both Cab and Blanche Calloway, possibly
inspired by the dance Suzie-Q.
-
Doin'
the Suzie-Q, performed by Lil Hardin Armstrong.
-
Sweet
Sue, Just You, performed by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra
Tessie: (f) English diminutive
of Theresa, a name of unknown origin. It might be from the name of the
island of Thera, hence meaning, "from Thera." Another common theory is
that it derives from Greek theros, "harvest," so you often see it
in name books defined as "reaper."
-
Tessie is the star of the song Teasing
Tessie Brown, performed by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra.
Thomas: (m) English form of
Greek didymos: "twin."
-
Real name of stride pianist and organist,
jazz composer, comedian, actor and vocalist, the great Thomas
"Fats" Waller.
Virginia: (f) Derived from the
Latin name Virginius, of unknown origin, but most commonly associated
with virgo: "virgin." In the United States, also associated with
the name of the state. State names were very popular in the American South
during the 19th century.
-
Obviously inspired by state names,
Virginia, Georgia and Caroline, performed by Cab Calloway;
-
Virginia is mentioned briefly in It
Looks Like Suzie, performed by Blanche and Cab Calloway.
Wesley: (m) Originally a surname,
from Old English west + leah: "from the west meadow."
Willie: (m) English diminutive
of William, from Germanic wil + helm: "will helmet."
-
Stride jazz pianist and band leader
Willie "the Lion" Smith.
-
Willie
the Weeper, performed by Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon and Louis Armstrong,
which helped to inspire Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher.
Return to Heptune
Baby Names Central!
Published 10/23/99.
Updated 2/23/01.
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