Holding steady.
Popularity of Gidget since 1946
Babies named Gidget per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 41 |
| 1960s | 705 |
| 1970s | 690 |
| 1980s | 110 |
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gidget originated as a fictional name created by Frederick Kohner for his 1957 novel about a surfing teenage girl. The name blends 'girl' and 'midget', reflecting the character's nickname. It entered the U.S. baby name charts briefly during the 1960s, peaking in 1966, but never reached high popularity and has since remained rare. The name is almost exclusively used for girls and carries a vintage beach-culture association. While its first recorded use in U.S. data was 1946, the name likely saw a boost from the 1959 film adaptation starring Sandra Dee.
Gidget was created by author Frederick Kohner for his 1957 novel 'Gidget', about a teenage girl surfer. The name is a blend of 'girl' and 'midget', reflecting the protagonist's small stature. It gained popularity through a series of films in the 1960s and has remained in occasional use since.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gidge
Sibling names for Gidget
Names that share Gidget's style, for a brother or sister.
