Canadians - is Lorne still commonly given as a boy's name?

Factual Questions
1

I read in an article the other day that **Lorne ** is a popular boy’s name in Canada, deriving from the title of a 19th century Governor-General, the Marquess of Lorne (afterwards the Duke of Argyll). This popularity is supposedly unique to Canada. The article mentioned the actor Lorne Green as an example.

One example didn’t seem all that convincing to me. Is Lorne still a popular boy’s name in Canada?

2

I’ve never heard of that GG, and I don’t know a single person named Lorne.

3

I have an uncle by that name, but none of my contemporaries share it.

Related, the name of a Canadian kid on one episode of The Simpsons, Gordie, never fails to crack me up for some reason.

4

Here’s a Wiki reference: John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll

I see that the Wiki article also talks about Lorne being used as a boy’s name in honour of the GG. It’s probably the source of the newspaper article that I read.

5

Do not forget the great Lorne Michaels.

6

The Columbus Cottonmouths have a player (from Canada) named Lorne Misita, born 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

7

I know one Lorne. Not a very common name.

8

I met a Lorne a couple of weeks ago. He was in his fifties or sixties, and almost retired.

It’s not a common name here.

9

I don’t know if it is still popular or even if it was ever a common boys name. I know one guy named Lorne and he would be about 40 now.

10

I don’t know any Lornes personally, but to my ears it seems like a perfectly normal name like David, Andrew or John. It doesn’t strike me as odd, as say, my neighbour’s great-grandchild: Ranger.

11

It’s not a very common name in Alberta. I have a friend called Lorne, he’s mid-30s and from Cape Breton. Perhaps it’s more common down East.

12

Checking in, no Lornes - except Lorne Green I guess…

13

I know one Lorne nowadays. He’s about my age (mid-40s). Back in high school, I also knew a Lorna–the feminine equivalent of the name.

Calgary does have the Marquis of Lorne Drive (aka Highway 22X).

Seems that most of the most of the parents I know give their sons either traditional male names (Daniel, James, Michael, Peter) or names that are currently popular (Kyle, Tyler, Connor). However, there are no Lornes among the children that I know.

14

Is there a listing of popular Canadian names on line like the Soc. Sec list in the U.S.?

By the way, Lorne has not appeared in the top 1,000 boys names in the U.S. in the last fifteen years.

15

A comedian called Lorne Elliot is familiar to CBC listeners.

16

Yeah, he always cracks me up…

It is my impression that the name is common in Eastern Canada, far more than Western and is relegated to the age group that’s about 35+.

Of course, living in Alberta I may not be the best judge, though I do know at least one guy named Lorne.

17

the Premier of Saskatchewan is [Lorne Calvert](http://www.executive.gov.sk.ca/min_bios/58075.htm).

18

My friend’s dad is Lorne, and so is one of my younger brother’s friends. If I had to come up with a name it wouldn’t spring immediately to mind, but it’s not super uncommon.

19

There was Lorne, the night club host from an alternate dimension in the the *Angel *series. But I’m I’m pretty sure he was named for Lorne Greene, not for the Governor-General. Although, now that I think about it, the actor who played Lorne the night club host is openly gay, and Lorne the lord was gay, too, although not openly. So who knows?

20

I know one Lorne - he’s my age (33), but no, I wouldn’t say it was common.