Salvatore is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It is derived from the Latin word "salvus", which means "safe" or "sound". The name Salvatore is composed of two elements: "salve", meaning "health" or "well-being", and "-tore", a suffix that denotes an agent noun, indicating someone who brings about health or well-being.
The name Salvatore has been popular in Italy for centuries. It was often given to children born around the time of religious holidays honoring saints with similar names, such as St. Salvatore da Horta (also known as St. Salvador), a Spanish priest and martyr whose feast day is celebrated on August 13th.
In some cases, the name Salvatore has been associated with specific historical figures. For instance, Salvatore Rosa was an Italian painter active during the Baroque period, while Salvatore Ferragamo was an Italian shoe designer who founded his own fashion house in Florence in 1928.
Overall, Salvatore is a strong and meaningful name that has stood the test of time, conveying a sense of well-being, protection, and good health. It remains popular among families with Italian heritage or those simply drawn to its classic sound and rich history.
The name Salvatore has seen a varied trend of popularity over the years in the United States, with fluctuations ranging from single-digit births to several hundred births annually.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Salvatore was not a widely used name, with fewer than ten births reported each year between 1888 and 1910. However, starting in 1911, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Salvatore, with over 200 births recorded that year.
The popularity of the name continued to grow throughout the early to mid-20th century, reaching a peak in 1954 with 671 births. This trend persisted until the late 1960s and early 1970s, after which there was a steady decline in the number of newborn boys named Salvatore.
By the late 1970s, the popularity of the name had dropped significantly, with fewer than 400 births reported annually. This trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with only occasional spikes in popularity.
In recent years, the name Salvatore has seen a slight resurgence, with over 250 births reported in both 2019 and 2020, and over 260 births recorded in 2022. Despite this renewed interest, Salvatore remains relatively uncommon compared to other names.
Overall, while Salvatore has experienced periods of popularity throughout its history in the United States, it is not one of the most commonly used names.