Friday, April 24, 2026

Billie Jean, Diana, Annie & Susie: Michael Jackson Songs Featuring Female Names

๐Ÿ’Legendary ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿฝ entertainer ๐Ÿ‘‘Michael Jackson produced a multitude of hit ๐ŸŽผsongs — four of which I will be discussing — as they feature the first names: ๐Ÿ“›Billie Jean๐Ÿ“›Diana๐Ÿ“›Annie and ๐Ÿ“›Susie


"She told me her name was Billie Jean," Jackson sings of a beautiful woman with movie star looks. However, Billie Jean is not only a looker but a liar allegedly, accusing a man of being the father of her son.

The name ๐Ÿ“›Billie Jean (excluding ๐ŸŽพtennis' Billie Jean King) is forever associated with a woman being the ultimate homewrecker. But Billie Jean is a badass ๐Ÿ˜Ž name nevertheless. ๐Ÿ“›Billie Jean is obviously the names ๐Ÿ“›Billie (meaning: resolute protection, English, diminutive of ๐Ÿ“›Wilhelmina) + ๐Ÿ“›Jean (meaning: God is gracious, French, variation of ๐Ÿ“›Johanna) = the perfect name combination. ๐Ÿ“›Nameberry๐Ÿ’ says Billie Jean peaked for girls in 1984 (Billie Jean the song was released in 1983) at #4498. Boyish Billie alone has become a popular name (#694 ranking in US Top 1000) while old fashioned Jean (on name charts since 1880) is "extremely well-used as a middle name," points out ๐Ÿ“›NB๐Ÿ’. Separately the names are fine but together they are a powerhouse. ๐Ÿ’ฅ 

I love ๐Ÿ˜ the name ๐Ÿ“›Billie Jean and personally would not mind if I had been named it ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿพ‍♀️ (quite possible too because my late father was a huge Michael Jackson fan, the song came out days before I was born and my late mother said the song was played for me when I was a ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿพbaby ๐Ÿฅฐ). But with how shocking the story of the fictional Billie Jean is, perhaps having it as a first name would be too scandalous ๐Ÿ˜ฌ (at least during the 80s if a girl grew up named such).

๐Ÿ“›IRN RATING OF ๐Ÿ“›Billie Jean๐Ÿ‘ OR ๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—/10 


"Dirty Diana," Jackson bluntly sings of Diana the fan of every musician, who likes boys in bands, knows when they're in town  — and waits backstage for them after shows hoping she gains stardom.⭐

Say the name ๐Ÿ“›Diana and most often think ๐Ÿ‘‘Princess right before. So for Jackson to have a racy song with the first name of a prestigous royal family member within is jaw-dropping. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ But no the song was not about the Princess of Wales! In an interview with Barbara Walters, Jackson shared the memory of a London concert with Princess Diana present: "I took it out of the show in honor of her royal highness. She took me away and she said, Are you going to do 'Dirty Diana'? So, I said, 'No I took it out of the show because of you.' She said, 'No! I want you to do it. Do the song.'"

In the US the name Diana is #243 in the Top 1000, making it a pretty popular name. ๐Ÿ“›Diana is of Latin origin and means: divine, originating from the Roman goddess Diana 'of the hunt.' ๐Ÿ“›Nameberry๐Ÿ’ thinks "Diana is a gorgeous and still underused choice." Yet it is still more used than smiliar ๐Ÿ“›Diane, which ๐Ÿ“›NB๐Ÿ’ jokes, "middle-aged Diane has been overshadowed by the a-ending version of her name." 

I really like the name ๐Ÿ“›Diana, it's a beautiful and timeless name. It definitely has a bit more oomph! than ๐Ÿค๐Ÿพslightly boring sister ๐Ÿ“›Diane. If Jackson's Dirty Diana were instead: Dirty Diane it would not be the same song. ๐Ÿ“›Diana was definitely the ✔right name choice to use. ๐Ÿ’ฏ

๐Ÿ“›IRN RATING OF ๐Ÿ“›Diana๐Ÿ‘ OR ๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—/10 


"Annie are you okay?" Jackson asks of distressed victim named Annie in his smooth song Smooth Criminal. That question sung by Jackson was, "inspired by Resusci Anne, the name of the model of doll used to teach CPR. Jackson combined the question trainees learn to ask, “are you OK?” with the name of the doll to create the iconic line," according to ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAmerican Songwriter.๐Ÿ–Š

The name ๐Ÿ“›Annie is often a winsome (think Little Orphan Annie) nickname for ๐Ÿ“›Ann —  which means: grace (deriving from ๐Ÿ“›Hannah in Hebrew). "Annie is one of the most open and optimistic, the-sun'll-come-out-tomorrow type of name. It strikes a nice old-fashioned-but-jaunty chord that still has appeal," swears ๐Ÿ“›Nameberry๐Ÿ’. It ranks at #191 in US Top 1000 and has been a Top 20 name from the 1880s to 1907. 

๐Ÿ“›Annie is an adorable name but maybe too... childish? ๐Ÿค” At least to use as a first name. I like it mainly as a nickname to the more serious: ๐Ÿ“›Ann๐Ÿ“›Anne or girly ๐Ÿ“›Anna. Jackson again, made the correct name choice in choosing ๐Ÿ“›Annie: "Anna are you okay?" or "Ann/e are you okay?" No, both sound off. ๐Ÿ™…๐Ÿพ‍♀️

๐Ÿ“›IRN RATING OF ๐Ÿ“›Annie๐Ÿ‘ / ๐Ÿ‘Ž OR ๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—/10 


"Susie got your number and Susie ain't your friend," Jackson warns of seductive woman who is out to kill, and ends up stabbing ๐Ÿ”ช someone, in: ๐ŸฉธBlood On The Dance Floor. ๐Ÿ’ƒ 

The name ๐Ÿ“›Susie (meaning: lily, of Hebrew origin) is usually short for ๐Ÿ“›Susan (or ๐Ÿ“›Susannah). ๐Ÿ“›Nameberry๐Ÿ’ claims, "In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own," — and it might be — "off its fashion peak but it's still cute and perky." Susie ranks #970 in the US Top 1000.

๐Ÿ“›Susie is simple yet cutesy when used as a real life name and I like it just okay ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿพ  but it doesn't seem like it would be the name of a femme fatale ๐Ÿ‘„   yet it somehow it works well (over ๐Ÿ“›Susan, too dull ๐Ÿฅฑ and ๐Ÿ“›Susannah, too peppy ๐Ÿ˜ƒ) in Jackson's dark ๐Ÿ˜ˆ song. 

๐Ÿ“›IRN RATING OF ๐Ÿ“›Susie๐Ÿ‘ OR ๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿ’—/10 



In ๐ŸŽ‰celebration of the Michael ๐ŸŽถbiopic ๐ŸŽฅmovie ๐Ÿ‘€check out related ☔IRN๐Ÿ“› posts below⬇:


๐Ÿ“Œ๐Ÿ“–READ ALL ABOUT THE NAME๐Ÿ“›Jaafar:

https://itsrainingnames.blogspot.com/2025/11/name-of-day-jaafar.html

๐Ÿ“Œ๐Ÿ“–READ ALL ABOUT THE NAME๐Ÿ“›Jackson:

https://itsrainingnames.blogspot.com/2025/06/name-of-day-jackson.html


Billie Jean, Diana, Annie & Susie: Michael Jackson Songs Featuring Female Names

๐Ÿ’Legendary ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿฝ entertainer ๐Ÿ‘‘ Michael Jackson produced a multitude of hit ๐ŸŽผsongs  — four  of which I will be discussing  —  as they f...