Evangeline makes SSA's top 1000 baby names of 2006

My wife and I gave birth to our first child on February 2007. We wanted her to have a traditional, but uncommon name. I was known as Dave C. growing up, due to the large number of "Davids" in class and didn't want my daughter to have the same experience.

We picked the name Evangeline. It's the title of an Epic poem by Longfellow and much more recently a song by Matthew Sweet. It hadn't been in the Social Security Administration's top 1000 baby names since 1966. Plus, she'll have a ton of options of what she'll be able to go by, including Eve, Eva, Lina, Van, Vanna, Angel, Evelyn, etc. I like the full version, but I'm sure it will be shortened at some point in her life.

I just looked at the top baby names for 2006, and I was shocked. After a 40 year absence, Evangeline was on the list again. Actually, it wasn't just on the list, it came in at number597, it's highest showing since 1941. Number 597 isn't exactly going to have half the room turn their heads when someone says "Evangeline", but the name is certainly getting more popular.