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KFC predicts 2018 baby name of year will be 'Harland'

August 29, 2018

How far will parents go to plunk down a nice chunk of change in their new baby's college fund? KFC's betting a bunch of them will be willing to name their newborns, Harland, after the original white-haired chicken chain salesman in the string tie.

On Sept.9, the chain will celebrate what would have been Col. Harland Sanders' 128th birthday by giving the first child born and named "Harland" that day an $11,000 (in honor of KFC's 11 herbs and spices) birthday gift to go toward their college education.

KFC marketers, who said the colonel's somewhat offbeat name ranked way down on the list of common baby names last year, coming in at No. 3,257, hope to incentive will move the name up the list.

"Even though vintage names are making a comeback, our iconic founder's name was dwindling in popularity, and we couldn't just stand idly by and let that happen," KFC U.S. CMO Andrea Zahumensky, said in the release. "We hope that this birthday celebration honors the Colonel and encourages the next generation of people aspiring to live the American dream."

Beginning on Sept. 9, parents can submit the name, date and time of their baby Harland's birth along with their contact information on www.kfc.com/BabyHarland. The site will be live for 30 days, giving parents time to adjust to the newest addition to their family. 

The baby's first name must be Harland to qualify, and each entry will be vetted appropriately to ensure that the winning child was in fact (among those who entered) the first Harland born on Sept. 9, 2018. And there's more rules and regulations to be had too, so read them on the website and get that tiny white suit and string tie ready.