Calhoun is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from the surname Calhoun, which was originally an Irish Gaelic name, Ó Ceallacháin. The name Ó Ceallacháin is composed of two elements: "Ó," meaning "descendant of," and "Ceallachán," a personal name believed to mean "hardy" or "bold."
The surname Calhoun was brought to America by early Irish immigrants, with one of the most notable bearers being John C. Calhoun, a prominent American statesman from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. He served as the seventh Vice President of the United States under both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
As a given name, Calhoun is relatively rare but has been used occasionally in America since the mid-20th century. It is often associated with the Southern American states due to its historical usage there. The name Calhoun does not have any specific meaning or attributes when used as a given name, but it can be seen as having a strong and bold connotation based on its derivation from Ó Ceallacháin.
In terms of popularity, Calhoun has never ranked among the most common names in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration's data, there have been fewer than five babies named Calhoun each year since records began in 1938, with a peak of nine births in 2006.
Overall, Calhoun is an uncommon but historically significant given name with an interesting origin and derivation. Its rarity makes it stand out as a unique choice for parents looking for something distinctive for their child.
The name Calhoun has been given to babies in the United States for over a century, with fluctuations in its popularity over time. Between 1886 and 2023, there have been a total of 274 births registered with this name.
In the early years recorded, Calhoun was quite popular, with five births each year in 1886 and 1912. The name reached its peak popularity during the early to mid-20th century, with ten births occurring in both 1916 and 1924. This period also saw a significant number of Calhouns born in consecutive years between 1927 and 1938.
After World War II, the popularity of the name Calhoun seemed to decline slightly but remained relatively consistent until the late 1950s. There was a notable gap in births from 1954 to 1993 before it started gaining traction again in recent years. In fact, since 2012, there has been an uptick in Calhoun births, with numbers ranging between eight and twelve each year.
Overall, the name Calhoun appears to have experienced periods of popularity followed by intervals of less common usage throughout its history in the United States. Despite these fluctuations, it continues to be chosen as a baby's name even today.