Selby is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name 'Seolfe', which means 'seal'. The name Seolfe was quite popular during the Anglo-Saxon period, and it is believed to have been used by several historical figures.
The surname Selby, on the other hand, is derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England. The town of Selby is situated on the River Ouse and was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Seolfehaga'. The name likely means 'settlement of the people of Seolf', where Seolf is an Old English personal name.
Despite its English origins, the name Selby has also been used in other countries. In Australia, for example, Selby was a popular given name during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also found in New Zealand and Canada.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Selby. These include Sir Thomas Selby, an English soldier and politician who fought in the Wars of the Roses, and Selina Selby, a Jamaican sprinter who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Today, Selby remains a relatively uncommon given name, but it is still used occasionally. It may appeal to parents looking for a distinctive yet traditional name with a strong historical background.
Based on the statistical data provided for the given name Selby, we can observe several trends and patterns over time in the United States.
The earliest recorded birth with the name Selby occurred in 1909, with a total of five births that year. The popularity of the name increased steadily during the early decades of the 20th century, reaching its peak between 1916 and 1924. During these years, there were consistently more than ten births annually, with the highest number occurring in 1922 at twenty-four births.
However, from the mid-1920s onwards, the popularity of the name Selby began to decline significantly. Between 1925 and 1946, there were less than ten births per year on average, with some years recording as few as five or six births. This trend continued throughout most of the second half of the century, except for a brief spike in popularity during the early 1990s when sixteen babies were named Selby in 1993.
Overall, from 1909 to 2014, there have been a total of six hundred eighty-three births registered with the name Selby in the United States. Despite its fluctuating popularity over time, this data demonstrates that the name Selby has maintained a consistent presence within American naming traditions for over a century.
It is important to note that these statistics only reflect recorded births and do not account for any instances where the name may have been used but not officially registered. Additionally, changes in census methods and record-keeping practices throughout history can also impact the accuracy of these figures.
In conclusion, while Selby has experienced varying levels of popularity over time, it remains a name with historical significance in the United States, having been bestowed upon more than six hundred babies since 1909. This data provides valuable insights into naming trends and patterns throughout different eras of American history.