Raymond is a name of French origin that comes from the Germanic name Raginald. The name means "wise protection" or "wise power." It is composed of two elements: "ragin," which means "advice" or "counsel," and "-mandu," which means "protection" or "power."
The name Raymond has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was popular among the nobility in France and England during this time period. One of the most notable figures named Raymond was Saint Raymond Nonnatus, who was born in Catalonia in 1204. He became a Franciscan friar and is now the patron saint of pregnant women, mid-wives, and childbirth.
The name Raymond has also been associated with royalty throughout history. King Raymond IV of Toulouse led the First Crusade in the 11th century, while King Raymond Berenguer I of Barcelona ruled from 1076 to 1082.
Today, Raymond remains a popular given name for boys. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it was the 395th most popular boy's name in 2020. It is also often used as a surname. In some cases, it can be shortened to Ray or Raymon.
Overall, Raymond is a strong and historical name with a meaningful meaning that has been carried on through generations.
The given statistics show the number of births for the name Raymond in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of the name.
In the late 19th century, the name Raymond was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 500 births per year between 1880 and 1892. However, its popularity began to grow steadily during the early 20th century, reaching over 1,000 births per year by 1907.
The name Raymond reached its peak in popularity during the 1910s and early 1920s, with over 10,000 births per year between 1912 and 1926. During this time, Raymond was consistently among the top 50 most popular boys' names in the United States.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline after the mid-1920s. Between 1928 and 1947, the number of births for the name Raymond decreased by more than half, from over 12,000 per year to around 6,000 per year.
Despite this decrease in popularity, Raymond remained a popular name throughout much of the mid-20th century. Between 1948 and 1972, the number of births for the name fluctuated between around 5,000 and 10,000 per year.
However, starting in the late 1970s, the popularity of the name Raymond began to decline more rapidly. Between 1978 and 2023, the number of births for the name decreased by over 90%, from around 4,500 per year to fewer than 1,000 per year.
Overall, while Raymond was once a very popular boys' name in the United States, its popularity has declined significantly in recent decades. Despite this decline, Raymond remains a classic and timeless name with a rich history of popularity throughout much of American history.