Justine is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Iustinus, which was itself derived from the past participle of the verb iustus meaning "just" or "righteous". The name Justine has been used since ancient times and has been popular among various cultures throughout history.
Justine was initially a male name in Roman times but evolved into a female name as it became more common in France during the Middle Ages. The name gained further popularity with the release of the French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos, published in 1782. In this novel, the character Madame Tourvel is named Justine, which helped to popularize the name among French speakers.
In some languages, such as Italian and Spanish, Justine can have a masculine form, "Justino", but it is predominantly used as a feminine name. The name has been consistently ranked among the top 1000 baby girl names in various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Today, Justine is considered a classic yet timeless name that carries a strong meaning of justice and righteousness. It can also be seen as a variant spelling of Jasmine or Justin. Despite its ancient origins, Justine remains a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and elegant name for their daughters.
The name Justine has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the years in the United States. In the early to mid-20th century, the name was quite rare with fewer than 10 births per year recorded between 1921 and 1975.
However, starting from 1976, there was a notable increase in the number of girls named Justine. The highest peak occurred in 1988 with 159 births, which was more than ten times the annual average during the early years. This popularity continued throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it began to decline again after 1994.
By the year 2000, the number of girls named Justine had decreased significantly, with fewer than 50 births per year recorded. This downward trend continued into the 21st century, with the most recent data from 2020 showing only 5 births for the name Justine.
In total, over the span of nearly a century (1921-2020), there were 2412 girls named Justine born in the United States. Despite its fluctuation in popularity, the name Justine remains among the thousands of unique names given to newborns each year in the country.