The name Stu is a short form of the given name Stuart, which is of Scottish origin and means "steward" or "guardian". The name has been used in Scotland for centuries and was originally given to boys who were born with a large head of hair.
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that a baby's head reflected its future prospects. Therefore, if a child was born with a lot of hair on its head, it was thought that they would grow up to be wise and powerful. The name Stuart was thus given to boys who were born with a large amount of hair, as it meant "steward" or "guardian".
The name Stuart became popular in England during the reign of King James VI of Scotland (who later became King James I of England). After he ascended to the throne in 1603, many English families began using the name Stuart as a way to honor their new king.
Over time, Stu became a popular nickname for the given name Stuart. Today, Stu is often used independently of its full form and can be found on birth certificates and other official documents around the world. Despite its Scottish origins, Stu has become a truly international name, used in countries from Australia to Canada to South Africa.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Stu experienced some fluctuations in popularity over a six-year span from 1958 to 1964 in the United States.
In 1958, there were 5 babies named Stu, which was the lowest number recorded during this period. The following year, however, saw an increase with 11 births given the name Stu.
The year 1960 saw a slight dip with only 6 Stu's born that year. This trend continued in 1961 with another 7 births, totaling up to 28 newborns named Stu over these four years.
In 1962, there was a significant jump in popularity, with 13 babies named Stu being born that year. This brought the total number of Stu's born between 1958 and 1962 up to 41.
The last two years saw another decrease: in 1963, there were 7 births recorded for the name Stu, followed by a further decline with only 6 newborns named Stu in 1964. This brought the overall total of Stu's born between 1958 and 1964 up to 55.
It is interesting to observe these fluctuations in popularity over time. Despite some variations year-to-year, the name Stu maintained a consistent presence with an average of around 9 births per year during this six-year period.