Refugio is a Spanish male given name that is derived from the Latin word "refugium," which means "sanctuary" or "place of refuge." The name has its roots in religious history, as it was often used to describe a place where people could seek shelter and protection.
The name Refugio became popular in Spain during the Middle Ages, particularly among devout Catholics. It was believed that those who were named after this sanctuary would be protected by divine powers and granted eternal salvation. As a result, many families chose to give their sons this name as a symbol of their faith and desire for spiritual refuge.
Over time, Refugio spread beyond Spain's borders and became more widely used throughout Latin America. Today, it is still most commonly found in Spanish-speaking countries, where it continues to be associated with religious traditions and cultural heritage.
Despite its historical and religious significance, Refugio remains relatively rare as a given name. According to some sources, there are fewer than 10,000 people worldwide who share this unique moniker. However, for those who do bear the name Refugio, it serves as a reminder of their cultural roots and the enduring power of faith.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the trends and fluctuations in the number of births with the name Refugio in the United States over time.
The name Refugio first appeared in the records with five births each in both 1885 and 1900. This number remained consistent until 1906 and 1907, when it increased to six births each year. The trend of increasing numbers continued with nine births in both 1909 and 1910.
Starting from 1912, we see a more significant increase in the number of births with the name Refugio, reaching twenty births that year. This upward trend continued throughout the early 1910s, peaking at thirty-five births in 1916.
However, after 1917, the number of births with the name Refugio began to fluctuate more significantly. While there were still consistent years such as 1924 with sixty-nine births and 1927 with seventy births, other years showed decreases or remained relatively low.
The period from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s saw a general decline in the number of Refugio births, with figures ranging between thirty-five and forty-nine. This trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with numbers typically between twenty-four and fifty-five.
In more recent years, from the 1980s onwards, the name Refugio has become less common in the United States, with fewer than fifty births recorded annually. The highest number of Refugio births in this period was fifty-seven in 1981, while other years saw as few as six or seven births.
In conclusion, while Refugio was once a relatively popular name in the United States during the early 20th century, its usage has significantly decreased over time. Currently, it is quite uncommon, with fewer than ten births recorded annually since 2010.