National Brenda Day – July 18, 2024

History of National Brenda Day

The name Brenda came into use in the British Isles in the 1800s after novelist Sir Walter Scott wrote “The Pirate,” whose heroine was named Brenda. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that it became a popular choice for girls. By the 1920s, Brenda ranked in the top 100 names for girls.

Brenda Dean Paul, the poster girl for the Flapper generation, is widely regarded as the first celebrity to popularize the name. Paul, a member of the United Kingdom’s young, aristocratic elite, was known for his flashy dress parties, frequent drinking, and, subsequently, drug misuse. She was pursued by the press as she moved through the revolving doors of rehab and the courts in the 1930s. Ironically, Paul’s troubles had no effect on the popularity of the Brenda name in the United Kingdom, where it remained popular until the mid-1950s.

In the U.S., Brenda didn’t become a common girl’s name until the 1930s, when American socialite Brenda Frazier caught the attention of the tabloids. Frazier, unlike her British counterpart Paul, did not lead a life of hard partying, drug abuse, and endless scandal. Instead, she was famous for being a wealthy heiress at a time when many rich Americans had lost their fortunes in the Great Depression. In reality, Frazier wasn’t as wealthy as the media portrayed. She struggled with bulimia and anorexia for years, even attempting suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills in 1961. But to ordinary Americans, she led a glamorous life and made the name Brenda attractive to newborn girls for 17 consecutive years. Frazier died of bone cancer in 1982, becoming one of many cautionary tales about the reality of being a major celebrity.