Bentley

The name Bentley popped onto the U.S. popularity charts once in the late 1880s and then again in the early 1960s. Other than that, the name lived in obscurity. However, its brief early appearance tells us that Bentley has been around for longer than we would have expected. Nonetheless, the name does not really come into use until very recently, in 2007. In four remarkably short years, the name advanced an almost unprecedented 900 positions on the American charts, finally landing a spot on the Top 100 list in 2011 (#75). What’s even more impressive is that the name experienced most of its growth between the years 2009 and 2010. To whom does this name owe almost all of its sudden popularity? An MTV reality star named Maci Bookout who appeared on the cable channel’s “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” series (2009). Yes, a teenage mom almost single handedly put this name on the map. Apparently she made quite an impression on young mothers across America. Talk about pop-culture influences! Yikers! Aside from children naming children and influencing what other children name their children, Bentley is also reflective of the “Last Names First” naming trend so popular today. Not to mention this particular surname has a certain aristocratic resonance thanks mainly to the ritzy car that shares its name.