When names die, too

The HBO Depression-era series, Mildred Pierce , along with the release last week of the Social Security Administration’s top 1,000 baby names of 2010 got me thinking to the way names die off, too.

One of my mom’s closest friends, and an important mom from my childhood, was named Mildred. Her name disappeared from the top 1,000 list in 1984.

But maybe there’s hope. Hazel dropped off the list from 1976 until reappearing in 1998. Its comeback continues.

I wish the same for Mildred.

(Photo of HBO’s Mildred Pierce by AP/HBO)