Yolanda is a name of Spanish origin, derived from the Basque name Iolanda, which means "she who has a beautiful appearance." The name is composed of two elements: "io," meaning "beauty," and "-landa," meaning "land" or "country."
The name Yolanda gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages through the legend of Yolantha, a daughter of Charlemagne who was known for her beauty and kindness. In the story, Yolantha falls in love with a minstrel named Oliver, but their love is hindered by the interference of an evil enchantress. Eventually, their love triumphs, and they live happily ever after.
The name Yolanda has been popular among royalty throughout history. One notable example is Queen Yolande of France (1420-1483), who was the mother of King Louis XI. Another famous Yolanda is Yolanda Ferreras, a Spanish actress known for her roles in theater and cinema.
In literature, the name Yolanda has been used by several authors, including Lord Byron in his epic poem "Don Juan," and Charles Dickens in his novel "Little Dorrit." These appearances have helped to popularize the name and contribute to its enduring appeal.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Yolonda has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century.
In the early to mid-20th century, there were intermittent years with low numbers of births registered with the name Yolonda. The highest number during this period was 25 births in 1947, while some years only saw between 5 and 8 births.
However, starting from the late 1950s, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Yolonda. In 1956, there were 61 births, followed by peaks of 74 births in 1960, 97 births in 1961, and an all-time high of 188 births in 1972.
The popularity of the name Yolonda continued to fluctuate throughout the late 20th century. There were periods with relatively high numbers of births, such as between 1970 and 1975 (ranging from 108 to 185 births per year), followed by a decline in popularity from the mid-1970s onwards.
From the late 1980s until the early 2000s, the name Yolonda was not as commonly used for newborn girls in the United States. There were fewer than 30 births per year registered with this name during most of these years.
In recent times, the popularity of the name Yolonda has continued to decline. The statistics show that there were only 5 or 6 births per year from 2002 onwards, reaching as low as just one birth in some years.
Overall, while the name Yolonda experienced periods of notable popularity in the mid-20th century and again during the late 1960s to early 1970s, it has since become less common. As of recent years, it appears that this name is quite rare among newborn girls in the United States.