Antigone is a feminine given name of Greek origin. It means "against birth" or "in place of birth". The name has historical significance in Greek mythology.
In the mythological story of Oedipus, Antigone is one of his daughters by his mother-wife Jocasta. After Oedipus learns about his tragic fate, he blinds himself and leaves Thebes. Antigone and her sister Ismene stay behind to face the consequences of their father's actions.
Antigone gains notoriety for defying Creon, king of Thebes, when she buries her brother Polynices despite Creon's decree that he be left unburied as a traitor. This act of loyalty and piety towards her brother leads to Antigone's arrest and subsequent suicide by hanging herself in her prison.
The story of Antigone has inspired numerous works of art, literature, and philosophy throughout history. It raises profound questions about justice, familial duty, and the conflict between personal morality and civic law. The name Antigone thus carries a strong association with these themes of courage, loyalty, and tragic fate.
Based on the statistics provided, it's clear that the name Antigone has been given to a total of 381 babies over the years in the United States. The popularity of the name seems to have fluctuated over time.
In the early years recorded (1962-1978), the number of births with the name Antigone ranged from a low of 5 to a high of 12 per year. There was a slight increase in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the highest number of births recorded being 13 in 1989.
The name Antigone then seemed to gain more traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with peaks of 16 births in 1997 and 11 births in both 1998 and 2001. However, its popularity started to decline after that period.
More recently, from 2003 onwards, the number of babies named Antigone has hovered around an average of 8-9 births per year, with spikes at 16 in 2017 and 10 in 2022. Despite these fluctuations, it's evident that Antigone remains a unique and distinctive name choice for parents in the United States.
This information can be useful for those considering the name Antigone, as it provides insight into its historical popularity and trends over time. However, it's essential to remember that choosing a name is a personal decision based on individual preferences and should not be influenced solely by statistical data.