Jason, The Straight Dope, and Here Come the Baby Name Suggestions

Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

Straight Dope message board, April 2004. Why did 'Jason' briefly* become such a popular name?

(*13 years, 1971 to 1983, in the top 10; 5 years in a row at #2, 1974-78.)

Message board suggestions presented in chronological order.

1963

1965

Somebody mentioned a character named Jason Webber on the 1965-66 season of "The Guiding Light". a CBS soap opera.  Probably too minor-league a character to have much of an impact.

1968


Robert Brown, he of the pearly whites set in a ruggedly handsome face, starred as Jason Bolt in this short-lived "comedy adventure".  (2 seasons, 1968-70)  Teen heartthrob Bobby Sherman (Jeremy Bolt) and David Soul (Joshua Bolt).  Maybe sinjin is onto something here.

The above table still doesn't sufficiently explain the already surging popularity of Jason

Sidebar:  Robert Brown's last acting credit is a 1994 episode of "In the Heat of the Night".  For Bobby Sherman, it's "Sanchez of Bel Air" (1986).  David Soul remains active.

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