Women's first names in song

Cafe Society
1

I’m sure it’s been done, but let’s see (again) how many we can amass. The name must be sung in the song (no “Suite Judy Blue Eyes”) but does not have to be in the title or main idea. It has to mean a woman’s name in the song (no “America”). And see what you can do without searching! Feel free to add the song, artist or other identifying attribute, especially if it’s an additional example of a previously-named woman.

Anita (West Side Story)
Barbara Ann (Beach Boys)
Bette [Davis Eyes] (Kim Carnes)
Bobbie Jean (Springsteen)
Clementine (traditional)
Diana [,Dirty] (Michael Jackson)
Evageline (Stan Rogers)
Holly [Holy] (Neil Diamond)
Honey (that sappy one)
Kathy['s Song] (Simon and Garfunkel)
Laura [Tell…I Love Her]
Lillianne (sp?) (Emmylou Harris Red Dirt Girl)
Louise[‘s Song] (Stan Rogers)
Lucy [Jordan] (Marianne Faithfull)
Lucy [in the Sky with Diamonds] (Beatles)
Mary (Springsteen The River, Thunder Road)
Maria (West Side Story)
Maria (Springsteen)
Maybelline (Chuck Berry)
Renee [, Don’t Walk Away] (Southside Johnny)
Ronnie (Southside Johnny and Ronnie Spector)
Rosalita (Springsteen)
Sandy (Springsteen)
Sherry [Darlin’] (Springsteen)

2

Melissa [Allman Bros]
Aime [Pure Prarie League]
Rosanna [Toto]

3

Deborah
Carla
Mary
Susan
Reno
Cathy
Vicky
Camella
Xylla
Joan
Sherri
Kathleen
Seattle
Karen
Jeannie
Mary Ellen
Gloria
Mimi
Marilyn
Julie
Rhonda
Patty
Linda
Katherine
Pauline
Jean-Marie
Gina
Jackie
Sarah
Janet
Tanya
Brenda
Roeena
Dee-Dee
Debbie-Rae
Nina
Bobbie
Eloise
Terri
Ronnie
Jezebel
Dinah
Judy
Pomerante

“88 lines about 44 women” (The Nails)

4

Greta
Grace
Jean
Ginger
Rita
Lauren
Katherine
Lana
Bette

“Vogue” (Madonna)

5

Angela
Pamela
Sandra
Rita
Monica
Erica
Tina
Mary
Jessica

“Mambo #5” (Lou Bega)

6

Jessica [Allman Bros]
Layla [Clapton]
Suzie [Creedence]

7

Carmelita (Warren Zevon)
Dianne (Material Issue)
Jack and Dianne (John Mellencamp)
Hit and Miss Judy (Wreckless Eric)
Mandy (Barry Manilow)
Ruby (Mel Tillis/Kenny Rogers)
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

Also, Lieu, Jessica from the Allmans probably doesn’t count, since it’s an instrumental, and therefore not sung.

8

Lucille (fine time to leave me)
Fancy (Reba McEntire)

9

Alison (Elvis Costello)
Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
Carrie (Europe)
Cecilia (Simon & Garfunkel)
Donna (Ritchie Valens)
Roxanne (Police)
Sara (Bob Dylan, Starship)

10

Momo
Carolina
Alice
Lucretia
Rebecca
Fedora
Venetia
Lisa

“Where is the Life that Late I Led?” (from Kiss Me Kate)

11

Lyla - Oasis
Evangeline - Matthew Sweet
Maria - Counting Crows (Round Here)
Jennifer - Mike Doughty (27 Jennifers)
Anna Molly - Incubus
Sheena - The Ramones (Sheena is a Punk Rocker)
Wynona - Primus (Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver)
Rosanna - Toto
Joanna - Lionel Ritchie

12

Two that my wife is named after:

Laura: David Raskin (music), Johnny Mercer (Lyrics), from the movie Laura
Michelle: The Beatles

13

Ida - Al Jolson
Michelle - Beatles
Jude - Beatles
Katie - (“Beautiful K-K-K-Katie”)
Daisy - (“Give Me Your Answer Do”)
Rosemarie - Nelson Eddy
Cara - Jay and the Americans

14

All by Alice Cooper…

Cold Ethyl
Nurse Rozetta
Millie and Billie
I Like Girls (Shelia, Melissa, Donna, Shauna, Amanda, Sandra, Kay, Patty, Katy, Carrie, Dena)
Scarlet and Sheba
Gail (M-A-R-Y)
Sister Sara

15

Other Beatles ladies:

Anna
Eleanor (Rigby)
Joan (Maxwell’s Silver Hammer)
Julia
Lil (Rocky Raccoon)
Lizzy (Dizzy Miss…)
Loretta (Get Back)
Maggie (Mae)
Martha (My Dear)
Molly (Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da)
Nancy (Rocky Raccoon)
Pam (Polythene…)
Prudence (Dear…)
Rose (Maxwell’s Silver Hammer)
Sadie (Sexy…)
Sally (Long Tall…)
Valerie (Maxwell’s Silver Hammer)
Vera (When I’m 64)
Yoko (Ballad of John and…)

16

Bobbie McGee–probably a female in Kristpopherson’s original.

Maria–Sound of Music (What are we going to do about Maria–something like that)

G-L-O-R-I-A----The Doors

Suzy Q----Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mustang Sally–??

17

Nikki (Prince and the Revolution)

18

Amanda (Boston)
Carrie (Europe)
Help Me Rhonda (Beach Boys)

19

Also DeBarge (Who’s Holding Donna Now?)

20

I am partial to “Donna” songs