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Current DateTime: 10:13:20 09 Feb 2012
LinksList Documentid: 23279670
Expiration DateTime: 2/9/2012 10:15:30 PM

SPORTS BIZ SLIDESHOWS

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Current DateTime: 10:13:20 09 Feb 2012
LinksList Documentid: 37998722

DARREN ROVELL'S SPORTS INDEX

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ABOUT SPORTS BIZ

Darren Rovell brings you his unique take on the business of sports: a multi-billion dollar global industry and obsession full of personalities and products. On Sports Biz, Darren will give you his up-to-date take on everything from salaries to endorsement deals to marketing and promotions, trades and tirades – in short, everything that makes sports so exciting.

Peyton Vs. Brady: The Baby "Battle" Name Game

Published: Tuesday, 23 Oct 2007 | 9:10 AM ET
Text Size
By: Darren Rovell
Sports Business Reporter

Tom Brady
Tom Brady

So the Indianapolis Colts are 6-0 and the New England Patriots are 7-0 and there's plenty of debate as to who is the better quarterback. Even after last night's convincing win against Jacksonville, it seems like everyone is waiting for Tom Brady to break Peyton Manning's single season touchdown record.

Why is the business guy talking so much football? Because there's a great story developing in hospital nurseries across the country. As both quarterbacks continue to dominate the NFL, the names "Peyton" and "Brady" are enjoying the greatest era in their onomastic (the study of proper names) history.

First, let's start with Peyton, which is old English for "fighting man's estate."

Peyton Manning
AP
Peyton Manning

For years, the more popular spelling of the name was Payton, which we have no doubt was thanks in part to Walter. But in 1995, the year of Peyton Manning's first dominant season at Tennessee, the Social Security Administration's stats noted that Peyton (ranked the 483rd most popular name in the U.S.) passed Payton (No. 511) for the first time.

Since then, Peyton has never looked back. Reports are that more and more babies in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana (where he grew up). Five of the last seven years, Peyton has been in the top 200 and with a Super Bowl victory in Feb. 2007, it's only expected that Peyton will achieve an all-time high ranking in 2007.

Ranking of Peyton:

Year of birth

Rank

2006

154

2005

138

2004

162

2003

207

2002

205

Source: Social Security Administration

The name "Brady" is of Irish and Gaelic origin and it could mean "large chested." It was more popular than Peyton to begin with, but the name has become more popular in the last four years (from ranking No. 141 in 2003 to No. 105 last year).

Ranking of Brady:

Year of birth

Rank

2006

105

2005

110

2004

122

2003

141

2002

147

Source: Social Security Association

So Brady is even leading Peyton in baby names. All Peyton can hope for is for twins like these I found on the Internet that are named both Brady and Peyton.

Questions?  Comments? 

© 2012 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Topics:Media | Sports


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