The name Maud is of Germanic origin and means "mighty in battle" or "famous warrior". It was brought to England by the Normans during the 11th century and was initially a male name, but over time it became more commonly used for females. In French, the name is spelled Mahaut, and it has been borne by several notable historical figures, including Mahaut of Artois, who lived in the late 13th to early 14th centuries and was known for her intelligence and political influence. Today, Maud is still a popular choice for girls' names in English-speaking countries.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Maud has seen a significant decline in popularity over time in the United States. The peak years for the name Maud were around the late 19th century, with the highest number of births occurring in 1886, at 478 births that year.
However, after the turn of the century, there was a steady decrease in the number of newborn girls named Maud. By the 1920s, the number of annual births with the name Maud had decreased to around 130-150 births per year. This trend continued into the 1930s and 1940s, with fewer than 50 births per year recorded for the name Maud.
In more recent years, the name Maud has become quite rare in the United States. Between 2002 and 2022, there were only six births per year, on average, where the baby girl was named Maud. Despite this decline in popularity, it is still possible to find individuals with the name Maud today, and it remains a unique and historic name choice.
It is worth noting that while these statistics provide insight into the historical trends of the name Maud in the United States, they do not reflect current or future naming trends. Additionally, these statistics only account for births registered in the U.S., so there may be additional individuals named Maud who were born abroad but later moved to the U.S.
In conclusion, while the name Maud was quite popular in the late 19th century in the United States, its popularity has significantly declined over time. Today, it is a rare name choice for newborn girls in the U.S., with only a handful of births registered each year with the name Maud.