The (Next) Top Ten Girl Name Songs

Hello! Recently, I posted a list of the Top Ten Girl Name Songs. At the time, I felt confident in the list, in that it covered quite a range of hit songs, in terms of a variety of genres and time periods. However, due to the sheer number of successful songs in this particular niche, I feel it's only fair to shine a light on ten -- and ONLY ten -- additional tunes that didn't make the list. You may say, "Surely you can't be serious." As the late Leslie Nielson once said, "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." With that, here we go! In no particular order...meaning this: don't be shocked by the #1 spot, as we are going IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. Thank you...here we go!

10. Denise



Denise is of French origin, and the meaning of Denise is "follower of Dionysius".

This was a #10 (US) for Randy and the Rainbows in the summer of 1963. It also reached #18 on what was then called the Black Singles chart, even though it could be defined as "Wonder Bread white". Which goes to show there's no borders when it comes to good music. It's a great song, and could have easily been a hit for the Four Seasons.

Oh Denise, shooby doo
I'm in love with you, Denise shooby doo
I'm in love with you, Denise shooby doo
I'm in love with you

9. Susie Q



Susie is a diminutive form of the English girl name Susan, the meaning of which is "lily".

This has covered by too many to mention, as it's now become a standard in the rock and roll idiom. This was a #27 (US) hit for rockabilly singer/guitarist Dale Hawkins back in 1957. It was later recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968, and for them reached #11 (US). This is one of those songs that all guitarists must learn.

Oh Susie Q,
Oh Susie Q,
Oh Susie Q,
Baby I love you,
Susie Q

8. Wendy



Wendy is of English origin, the meaning of which is "friend".

This wasn't a big hit for the Beach Boys, but it is definitely one of their best and most underrated tunes. It reached #44 (US) in 1964. Here are some Wendys: Wendy Wilson, daughter of Beach Boy founder Brian Wilson, Wendy Darling, from James M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" stories, and Wendy's restaurant, founded by Dave Thomas and named after his then-eight-year-old daughter.

Wendy, Wendy don't lose your head
Lose your head
Wendy don't believe a word he says
I can't picture you with him
His future looks awful dim
Oh Wendy, Wendy left me alone

7. Donna



Donna is of Italian origin, of which the meaning is "lady". The original meaning is closer to "lady of the home", and is a title of respect equivalent to Don for men.

Ritchie Valens wrote and recorded this for his girlfriend, Donna Fox, in 1958. The story goes that she heard the song for the first time while listening to the radio. It reached #2 (US) that same year. Sadly, Valens was later killed in a plane crash, along with Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper") on February 3, 1959: The Day the Music Died.

I had a girl, Donna was her name
Since she left me, I've never been the same
'Cause I love my girl,
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?

6. Ruby Tuesday



Wow, I love it a two-for-one deal, and this is a song with two very interesting names, at that. Ruby, like the gemstone, comes from the Latin ruber, meaning "red". The ruby is the birthstone for the month of July. Tuesday, like the day of the week, comes from from the Latin, via Old English, meaning "Mars", the mythological god of war.

This is probably the one song that makes playing the recorder a cool thing. Plus, like with Wendy, it's the name of a restaurant. I wonder if the Rolling Stones get any royalties from that. It reached #1 (US) and #3 (UK) in 1967.

Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you

5. Tracy



Here's another potentially combative name, depending on how you look at it. Tracy is of Irish and Gaelic origin, the meaning of which is "warlike". It may also be a nickname for Theresa, which comes from the Greek for "late summer".

The Cuff Links are decorative fasteners worn fasten the two sides of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse...hmm, let's try that again. The Cuff Links were one of many bubblegum group names that singer Ron Dante recorded under. Most famously, Dante sang lead on "Sugar, Sugar" (The Archies). "Tracy" reached #9 (US) and #4 (UK) in 1969.

Tracy, when I'm with you
Somethin' you do
Bounces me off the ceiling
Tracy, day after day
When you're this way
I get a lovin' feelin'

4. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)



Besides being a fragrant, perennial herb, Rosemary is also a very cool name. It's of Latin origin, the meaning of which is "dew of the sea".

Like the previous song, this one is an AM radio classic. And, like with the previous song, this is another one of those bands-in-name-only-type-deals. Tony Burrows was the lead singer of this Edison Lighthouse hit. Burrows also had hits with White Plains ("My Baby Loves Lovin'",) the Brotherhood Of Man ("United We Stand",) and the First Class ("Beach Baby"). It reached #5 (US) and #1 (UK) in 1970.

She ain't got no money
Her clothes are kinda funny
Her hair is kinda wild and free
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me

3. Sherry



Here's an interesting one. Sherry is of English origin, and based upon the French "chérie," meaning "dear". It's also a short form of Sharon, Hebrew for "a fertile plain," and a variant of Cheryl, from Charlotte, which is from the Old German for "free man".

Sadly, I overlooked this classic when compiling the first Top Ten Girl Name Songs list. For that, I say mea culpa, which I think is Latin for, "My bad, dude!" Written in fifteen minutes by member Bob Gaudio, this was the first big hit for the Four Seasons (and lead singer Frankie Valli.) It reached #1 (US), #1 (US R&B) and #8 (UK) in 1962.

Sherry baby (Sherry baby)
Sherry can you come out tonight
(Come, come, come out tonight)
Sherry baby (Sherry baby)
Sherry can you come out tonight

2. Sally Go 'Round The Roses



Sally is of English origin, and is a variant of Sarah, which is Hebrew for "princess". Famous Sallys include actress Sally Field, talk show host Sally Jesse Raphael, and astronaut Sally Ride.

"Sally Go 'Round The Roses" was a semi-one-hit-wonder for the Jaynetts (who, technically, weren't a group...funny how often that happens in popular music.) Apparently, the cost to record this was close to $60,000. I'd say it was money well spent. The groove is light yet deep in its syncopation, the vocals are atmospheric, and the lyrics, based on "Ring Around The Roses", are at once simple and mystifying. It reached #2 (US) in 1963.

(Sally, go 'round the roses.)
Sally go 'round the roses.
(Sally, go 'round the roses.)
Sally go 'round the pretty roses.
(Roses they can't hurt you.)
Roses they can't hurt you.
(Roses they can't hurt you.)
No, the roses they can't hurt you.

And now, it's time to reveal --- not the top song on our list, as we're going this time in no particular order --- the last song. And it's a doozy. It's...!

1. Rama Lama Ding Dong



Yes, you read it right: "Rama Lama Ding Dong".

I feel sorry for any girl by that name.

Recorded by the Edsels in 1957 and released in 1958, "Rama Lama Ding Dong" is now considered a doo-wop classic, and for good reason. However, it didn't become a hit until 1961, after a New York City DJ began playing it along with the Marcels' "Blue Moon". It reached #21 (US) that year.

I got a girl named
Rama-Lama-Lama-Lama-Ding-Dong
She's everything to me
Rama-Lama-Lama-Lama-Ding-Dong
I'll never set her free
For she's mine, all mine

Do you agree with this list? Have any suggestions for honorable mentions, such as (to save you some time) "Gloria", "Hang On Sloopy", or "Ruby Baby"? I can think of a few (dozen more) myself, but I want you to decide.

Check out all of the lists here at Rock The Jukebox:

• The Top Ten Blue Songs 
• The Top Ten Rain Songs
• The Top Ten Dream Songs
• The Top Ten Sun Songs
• The Top Ten Moon Songs
• The Top Ten Girl Name Songs
• The (Next) Top Ten Girl Name Songs
• The Top Ten Walking Songs
• The Top Ten Mail Songs