๐Legendary ๐ค๐บ๐ฝ entertainer ๐Michael Jackson produced a multitude of hit ๐ผsongs — four of which I will be discussing — as they feature the first names: ๐Billie Jean, ๐Diana, ๐Annie and ๐Susie.
"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 ๐Billie Jean (excluding ๐พtennis' Billie Jean King) is forever associated with a woman being the ultimate homewrecker. But Billie Jean is a badass ๐ name nevertheless. ๐Billie Jean is obviously the names ๐Billie (meaning: resolute protection, English, diminutive of ๐Wilhelmina) + ๐Jean (meaning: God is gracious, French, variation of ๐Johanna) = the perfect name combination. ๐Nameberry๐ 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 ๐NB๐. Separately the names are fine but together they are a powerhouse. ๐ฅ
I love ๐ the name ๐Billie Jean and personally would not mind if I had been named it ๐คท๐พ♀️ (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 ๐ถ๐พbaby ๐ฅฐ). But with how shocking the story of the fictional Billie Jean is, perhaps having it as a first name would be too scandalous ๐ฌ (at least during the 80s if a girl grew up named such).
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Billie Jean: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
"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 ๐Diana and most often think ๐Princess right before. So for Jackson to have a racy song with the first name of a prestigous royal family member within is jaw-dropping. ๐ฎ 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. ๐Diana is of Latin origin and means: divine, originating from the Roman goddess Diana 'of the hunt.' ๐Nameberry๐ thinks "Diana is a gorgeous and still underused choice." Yet it is still more used than smiliar ๐Diane, which ๐NB๐ jokes, "middle-aged Diane has been overshadowed by the a-ending version of her name."
I really like the name ๐Diana, it's a beautiful and timeless name. It definitely has a bit more oomph! than
slightly boring sister ๐Diane. If Jackson's Dirty Diana were instead: Dirty Diane it would not be the same song. ๐Diana was definitely the ✔right name choice to use. ๐ฏ
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Diana: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
"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
American Songwriter.๐
The name ๐Annie is often a winsome (think Little Orphan Annie) nickname for ๐Ann — which means: grace (deriving from ๐Hannah 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 ๐Nameberry๐. It ranks at #191 in US Top 1000 and has been a Top 20 name from the 1880s to 1907.
๐Annie is an adorable name but maybe too... childish? ๐ค At least to use as a first name. I like it mainly as a nickname to the more serious: ๐Ann, ๐Anne or girly ๐Anna. Jackson again, made the correct name choice in choosing ๐Annie: "Anna are you okay?" or "Ann/e are you okay?" No, both sound off. ๐ ๐พ♀️
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Annie: ๐ / ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐/10
"Susie got your number and Susie ain't your friend," Jackson warns of seductive woman who is out to kill, and ends up stabbing ๐ช someone, in: ๐ฉธBlood On The Dance Floor. ๐
The name ๐Susie (meaning: lily, of Hebrew origin) is usually short for ๐Susan (or ๐Susannah). ๐Nameberry๐ 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.
๐Susie is simple yet cutesy when used as a real life name and I like it just okay ๐๐พ — but it doesn't seem like it would be the name of a femme fatale ๐ — yet it somehow it works well (over ๐Susan, too dull ๐ฅฑ and ๐Susannah, too peppy ๐) in Jackson's dark ๐ song.
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Susie: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
In ๐celebration of the Michael ๐ถbiopic ๐ฅmovie ๐check out related ☔IRN๐ posts below⬇:
๐๐READ ALL ABOUT THE NAME: ๐Jaafar:
https://itsrainingnames.blogspot.com/2025/11/name-of-day-jaafar.html
๐๐READ ALL ABOUT THE NAME: ๐Jackson:
https://itsrainingnames.blogspot.com/2025/06/name-of-day-jackson.html