Scott is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Sciathach", which means "shadowy" or "dark". It is also associated with the name of a legendary Irish warrior queen named Scáthach, who was said to have trained the hero Cú Chulainn.
The name Scott has a long history and has been used for centuries in Scotland. In the Middle Ages, it was often used as a surname, and many people with the name were clansmen of the Scottish family known as the Scotts of Buccleuch.
Over time, Scott became more commonly used as a given name in English-speaking countries. It gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th century and early 20th century, peaking in usage during the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, Scott is still a popular name for boys around the world. In recent years, it has been particularly common in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Scott was the 437th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2019.
The name Scott is often associated with several notable historical figures and celebrities, including Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish novelist and poet; Robert Falcon Scott, the British explorer who led an expedition to the Antarctic; and Scott Caan, the American actor known for his roles in films such as "Ocean's Eleven" and "Hawaii Five-0".
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the number of newborns named Scott in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1945, the number of births with the name Scott fluctuated between approximately 20 to 150 births per year. The highest point during this period was in 1917, with 170 births.
Starting from 1946, there was a significant increase in the number of newborns named Scott. This can be attributed to the post-World War II baby boom. In 1946 alone, the number of births with the name Scott jumped to 1522, which was more than double the highest number recorded in the previous years.
The peak of popularity for the name Scott occurred between 1950 and 1971. During this period, the number of newborns named Scott reached its apex in 1962 with 30702 births. This high level of popularity was maintained until around 1968-1969.
After reaching its peak, the popularity of the name Scott began to decline gradually. From 1970 onwards, the number of newborns named Scott decreased consistently each year. Between 1970 and 2000, the number of births with the name Scott dropped from around 30000 in 1970 to approximately 2500 in the year 2000.
This downward trend continued into the 21st century. By 2010, the number of newborns named Scott had fallen below 1000 births per year. In recent years, from 2017 to 2023, the number of births with the name Scott has stabilized between approximately 450 to 600 births per year.
In conclusion, while the name Scott enjoyed considerable popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, its use as a baby name has since declined significantly. Despite this decrease in popularity, the name Scott remains a classic choice for parents and continues to be given to newborns each year.