Collie is a unique and distinctive given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish word "colley," which originally referred to a type of dog known as the Border Collie. This breed of dog was developed in the Anglo-Scottish border region for herding livestock, particularly sheep.
The name Collie first gained popularity as a human name in the late 19th century, likely influenced by the fame and success of the novel "Lassie Come-Home" by Eric Knight, published in 1940. The story centered around the adventures of a Border Collie named Lassie, which captured the hearts of readers worldwide.
While there is no specific meaning attributed to the name Collie outside its origin as a dog breed, it has been associated with several positive qualities due to its canine namesake. These include loyalty, intelligence, and devotion – traits often exhibited by well-trained Border Collies.
In popular culture, the name Collie has been popularized by various characters in literature, film, and television. In addition to Lassie, notable examples include Collie Ennis from the novel "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler, and Collie Parker, a character played by Nicole Kidman in the movie "Moulin Rouge!"
Despite its unique origin as a dog breed name, Collie has been embraced as a given name for both boys and girls. It is considered to be unisex and remains relatively uncommon, offering those who bear it a distinctive identity.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe trends and patterns regarding the name Collie in terms of its popularity among newborns in the United States from 1881 to 2001.
The name Collie appears to have been quite popular during the late 19th century, with an average of around seven births per year between 1881 and 1895. However, there was a notable increase in its popularity starting from 1909, reaching a peak in 1914 with 35 births that year.
Throughout the early to mid-20th century, the name Collie maintained moderate popularity, with around 15 to 30 births per year between 1917 and 1956. There were some fluctuations during this period, but overall, it remained relatively consistent.
However, after 1956, there was a significant decline in the popularity of the name Collie. From 1957 onwards, the number of births with this name consistently fell below ten per year. This trend continued until the late 1980s and early 1990s, with only five to seven births recorded each year between 1983 and 1991.
Despite its decline in popularity, the name Collie did not disappear entirely from birth records. There were still six to nine births per year from 1971 onwards, demonstrating that there was some continued preference for this name among parents during this period.
In conclusion, while the name Collie experienced periods of popularity and decline over the years, it remains a distinctive choice with a unique history in the United States. As of 2001, a total of 1,172 babies named Collie were born in the country, indicating that many families have chosen this name for their children across generations.