Jameriah is a unique and captivating female given name of African origin. It is derived from the Swahili word "Jami" which means "all" or "everyone". The suffix "-yah" added to the end of the name gives it a feminine touch.
The name Jameriah was popularized by American author Alice Walker in her 1982 novel "The Color Purple". In the story, one of the main characters is named Celie, who has a sister called Nettie. Nettie has two daughters named Olivia and Jameriah whom she sends to live with their father Correa when they are young.
Although the name Jameriah may not have been widespread before its appearance in "The Color Purple", it has since gained popularity among parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their daughters. The name's African roots and its association with a powerful female character in literature make it an attractive choice for many families.
In terms of its history, there is not much documentation about the use of Jameriah prior to its appearance in Alice Walker's novel. However, as a Swahili-derived name, it can be traced back to East African languages and cultures. Today, Jameriah remains a relatively uncommon but distinctive name with a rich cultural heritage.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Jameriah has seen a varied trend of popularity among parents choosing names for their newborn daughters in the United States between 2001 and 2015.
The name first appeared on the radar in 2001 with 7 births recorded that year. This number nearly doubled by 2003, reaching a total of 10 births. However, it decreased to just 5 births in the following year, indicating a drop in popularity during this time.
Interestingly, Jameriah's popularity fluctuated significantly over the years, with no clear upward or downward trend. After the dip in 2004, there was another peak in 2006 with 14 births recorded that year. This was followed by a decrease to 9 births in 2008 and further down to 6 births in both 2009 and 2012.
However, the name saw a significant spike again in 2010 with 16 births recorded, only to decline once more to 5 births in 2012. Finally, in 2015, there were another 6 births recorded for the name Jameriah.
Overall, between 2001 and 2015, a total of 93 babies were named Jameriah in the United States. Despite its ups and downs in popularity over these years, it's clear that this unique name has had a consistent presence among newborn girls during this period.