Hilding is a male given name of Scandinavian origin, specifically from Norway and Sweden. It is derived from the Old Norse elements "hildr" meaning "battle" or "fight", and "ing" which signifies "belonging to". Therefore, Hilding can be interpreted as "belonging to the battle".
The name Hilding has a rich history in Scandinavian folklore and mythology. In the ancient heroic poem "Hervarar saga ok Heidreks", there is a character named Hilding who is a wise king and a mighty warrior. This might have contributed to the popularity of the name among early Norse people.
Although not as common today, Hilding was once quite popular in Norway and Sweden during the Middle Ages. It is still used occasionally in these countries, but it has not gained widespread international recognition like many other Scandinavian names such as Lars or Erik.
In terms of popularity rankings, Hilding does not appear in the top 1000 names for boys in either Norway or Sweden today. However, this does not diminish its historical significance or cultural value within Scandinavian culture.
Overall, Hilding is a unique and meaningful name with a strong connection to Scandinavian history and mythology. Its warrior-like connotations might appeal to parents looking for a powerful and distinctive name for their son.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the frequency of the name Hilding among newborns in the United States from 1892 to 1941.
From 1892 onwards, there was an average of around 5 births per year with the name Hilding. However, this number started to increase significantly in the early 1900s, reaching a peak of 17 births in both 1915 and 1916.
After this peak, the popularity of the name Hilding seemed to decline gradually over time. Between 1918 and 1928, there was an average of around 7 births per year with this name. After that period, the number of newborns named Hilding decreased significantly, with only 5 births recorded each year in both 1936 and 1937.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can see that while Hilding was once a relatively popular baby boy's name in the early 1900s, its popularity declined considerably over time.