Anastasia is a female given name of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word "ἀνάστασις" which means "resurrection". The name was particularly popular among early Christians because it was associated with the belief in eternal life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The name Anastasia gained prominence during the Byzantine Empire, where several members of the imperial family bore this name. One notable figure was Saint Anastasia, who was a Christian martyr during the Roman Empire period. She is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.
In literature, the name Anastasia has been popularized by works such as "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna Anderson" by Peter Kurth, which tells the story of Anna Anderson who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. This claim has contributed to the enduring popularity of the name Anastasia in modern times.
Overall, the name Anastasia is steeped in history and culture, with roots dating back to ancient Greece and significant figures throughout the centuries. Its meaning, "resurrection", adds a profound spiritual significance to this beautiful name.
The statistics provided indicate the annual number of babies named Anastasia born in the United States between 1985 and 2009. Over this period, there was a total of 123 newborns with the name Anastasia.
The popularity of the name Anastasia varied over time, with some years seeing more births than others. The peak year for the name was 1992, when 13 babies were named Anastasia. This is nearly double the number born in any other year during this period.
After 1992, the popularity of the name Anastasia began to decline. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were fewer than 10 births per year with the name Anastasia. The most recent data available is from 2009, which saw six babies named Anastasia.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that while the name Anastasia has not been particularly common in the United States over the past few decades, it has still been chosen for a significant number of newborns during this time period.