Campbell is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic phrase "cam beul," which means "crooked mouth." It is believed to have been given as a nickname to someone who was born with a crooked lip or had an irregular mouth. The name Campbell has been associated with Scotland for centuries and is considered one of the oldest clans in Scottish history.
The Campbells are thought to be descendants of Gillespie, the son of the 3rd Earl of Menteith, who was granted lands in Argyllshire by King Malcolm IV in the early 12th century. The Campbell clan played a significant role in Scottish politics and warfare throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, with many notable members serving as High Steward of Scotland.
Today, Campbell is not only associated with Scotland but also has become quite popular around the world as a given name for boys. It is often shortened to the nickname "Cam" or "Camp." Despite its origin meaning "crooked mouth," it has come to be known as a strong and noble name, reflective of its Scottish heritage.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the number of births named Campbell in the United States has fluctuated over time but has generally increased since the early 1990s.
In 1989, there were only 5 babies named Campbell born in the US. However, this number began to rise significantly starting from 1992 when 21 births were recorded. The peak of popularity for the name occurred between 2004 and 2007, with a total of 389, 435, and 392 births respectively during those years.
However, after reaching its zenith around the mid-2000s, the frequency of the name Campbell began to decline steadily. Between 2010 and 2017, the annual number of births with this name ranged between 200 and 304. More recently, from 2018 onwards, it has continued to decrease further, reaching a total of 190 births in 2019, 195 in 2020, and 210 in 2021.
Overall, from 1989 until 2023 (including the most recent data available), there have been a total of 6552 babies named Campbell born in the United States. This demonstrates how the popularity of names can vary significantly over time and across generations.