Top 10 Western Baby Names

Top 10 WESTERN BABY NAMES FOR 2020

In case you find yourself needing a western baby name for your 2020 quarantine baby, I have put together a list of the top ten western baby names for you to peruse. As always, I appreciate your feedback and would love to know what you think about the top ten picks! The picks will be split for the top five boy names and the top five girl names.

BY COWBOY LIFESTYLE

Top Five Western Boy Names

Beau. This name, in its original context, means pretty or handsome. Margaret Mitchell also used the name Beauregard in her best selling 1936 novel, “Gone with the Wind,” as the baby born to Melanie and Ashley Wilkes. Austin. This has been a popular name, at the top of the charts since the 1980’s. Austin means great, it is an English version of Augustus. Also in Latin, it means magic dignity. Not to mention, Austin is just a great name. Boone .This name started becoming insanely popular in the last 20 years. The original meaning means “good” or “blessing”. If this is a name you are considering, you should also know that this is the name of Dale Brisby’s horse. Granger. An English name meaning “worker of the granary”, basically a farmer. We picked this name because 1.) Granger Smith is a badass. And 2.) Granger is a great country name that isn’t overused. We highly recommend this one! Wyatt. It may go without saying, but the popularity for this name stems from the famous, Wyatt Earp. It may also be that Wyatt is just a phenomenal western name.

Top Five Western Girl Names

Genevieve. Through the last few decades, Genevieve has increased in popularity. It has Germanic roots, and it means “leader of the tribe”. Annie. The meaning of Annie is ‘blessed with Grace’. Annie was the name of one of the most popular cowgirls of her time. Being born in a poor family, Annie took over to hunting to feed her family after her father passed away. She became the first woman to feature on the Buffalo Cody’s Wild West Show. Cassidy. Do you remember Kathie Lee Gifford, the tastemaker of the early 1990s? She chose Cassidy for her daughter. Soon after, thousands of parents followed the suit. This Irish name means ‘clever’ or “curly-haired”. Marybeth. A combination of two names, Marybeth is a popular cowgirl name that means “star of the sea”. Wynonna. Wynnona is of Sioux, Native American origin which means “firstborn daughter”.

WORLD-FAMOUS SALSA BY A TRUE TEXAS FAMILY. LET ONE OF OUR TRAILBLAZING FLAVORS TAKE YOU FOR A WILD RIDE.

Cowgirls Rising

The Impact of TThe Western World has always included colorful cowgirls. However, there has truly been just one event in the sport of Professional Rodeo suited for women. That event, of course, has historically been Ladies Barrel Racing. A Brief History of Women In Rodeo I’ve always been a fan of the women who are widely considered the “greats” or “pioneers” of the rodeo arena. A few come to mind: • Fanny Sperry Steele. (American Bronc Rider/Performer) • Ruth Roach. (Professional Bronc Rider/World Champion Rodeo Performer) • Mabel Strickland Woodward. (Hall of Fame Rodeo Performer) Women in Rodeo BY ELLEN MOSS • Sammy Thurman. (Barrel Racing Champion/Rodeo Performer/Movie Stunt Rider) • Prairie Rose Henderson. (First Female Bronc Rider)

And other women of the western and rodeo lifestyle who’ve directly influenced my early life are: Brownie Smith. (Montana Rancher, former Bronc Rider) Floydena Garrison. (Montana Rancher, Horsewoman, Trainer, Breeder) Suzie Montero. (Nevada Rancher, Horsewoman, Trainer) Vicki Christensen. (Oregon Rancher, Rodeo Personality/Producer, Professional Trick Rider) Charlotte Priddy. (Montana Rancher, Rodeo Competitor) Becky Fuchs Mahoney. (WPRA All-Around Champ, Clinician, Trainer, Coach) Virginia (Jinx) Grazier. (my grandmother – Montana Rancher, Horsewoman)

For hands, neck & face

“Adding a second event means a whole lot to me and my circle.”

- LARI DEE GUY

Rodeo has always allowed – and even encouraged -- women to try their hand at whatever event they desired. After all, women could draw an audience and “put butts in seats”. Cowgirls currently compete alongside men in Team Roping.

However, on a professional level – a level at which such prestigious rodeos such as Pendleton, and Denver exist – there has been just the one gender-specific event of Barrel Racing.

It has shared an equal part of the prize money. However, men compete for money in seven other events, five of which have been specifically suited for the male athlete (Bareback Riding, Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, and Tie-Down Roping).

It was 1901 when Prairie Rose Henderson debuted at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo as a Bronc Rider; and by 1920, rough stock events, relay races, and trick riding were all the rage for other daring, free-flying women.

By 1928, Barrel Racing became the first Professional Sport for women on horseback.

As early as August of 2013, promoters began a push for Ladies Breakaway Roping to turn Pro.

In September of 2017, a group of lady Breakaway Ropers made history as they competed at the famous Pendleton Roundup ProRodeo.

For years, there have been female competitors in goat tying, pole bending, team roping, steer/ cow riding, cutting and breakaway roping at Little Britches, Junior High School, High School, College and amateur rodeo events.

• Ladies Barrel Racing has historically been the one event for females in professional rodeo.

• In September of 2017, a group of lady Breakaway Ropers made history as they competed at the famous Pendleton Roundup ProRodeo.

Cowgirls Rising

At the 2019 “The American“, Breakaway Roping made its debut. And it didn’t disappoint. Sixteen-year-old Madison Outhier won a record $100,000 – beating out hundreds of other ropers throughout the competition – busting the gates wide open for all the other girls who were ready and waiting to start competing on a professional level. That win meant so much, on so many levels. -Lari Dee Guy, World Champion Team Roper/Clinician/Breakaway Roper (excerpt is taken from the 2020 International Women’s Day WCRA video)

Rope and tack sales, horse sales, horse training and clinicians, truck and trailer sales, jackpot ropings, special events, and new arenas built and managed by women, are just some of the areas that have recently surged.

Breakaway events with large payouts: The “Feather S Invitational” in Pawhuska, Oklahoma (April) has drawn world champions such as Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and Jackie Crawford to compete; as well as the “Rope For The Crown” event – Las Vegas – in December.

The addition of Breakaway Roping in the Professional world of Rodeo has certainly been a welcome addition for women.