The name Houston is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Huistean or Ustian. It means "from Huston", which was a town in Angus, Scotland. The name has been associated with the city of Houston, Texas, but it predates the establishment of the city.
Houston as a given name has been used for centuries in Scotland and Ireland. It was brought to America by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, the name gained popularity in the mid-20th century due to its association with the city of Houston, Texas.
In literature, Houston has been used as a character's name in several works, including "The Sign of the Beaver" by Elizabeth George Speare and "Houston, We've Had a Problem" by Gene Kranz. It has also been used as a stage name by some celebrities, such as singer Houston Person.
Overall, Houston is a strong and distinctive given name with a rich history that predates its association with the Texas city of the same name.
The name Houston has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. It first appeared on the radar in 1987 with seven births that year, followed by another seven births in 1988. The number of babies named Houston then increased significantly to thirteen births in 1989.
This trend continued with twelve and thirteen births in 1990 and 1991 respectively, indicating a growing interest in the name during this period. However, there was a slight decline from 1992 onwards, with six births each year until 1996 when it rose again to eleven births.
The late 1990s saw fluctuations in popularity for the name Houston, with numbers ranging from ten to fourteen births per year. The early 2000s saw a decline once more, with single-digit figures from 2003 onwards until 2006 when there were six births each year.
From 2007 to 2010, the number of babies named Houston remained consistently low, ranging from five to seven births per year. However, since 2012, we have seen a resurgence in popularity for this name, with numbers rising from eight in 2013 to a peak of twenty-nine births in 2021.
As of 2023, there have been fifteen births named Houston in the United States so far this year. In total, since 1987, there have been 411 babies born with the name Houston in the United States. This data demonstrates how trends in baby naming can vary greatly over time and that some names may experience periods of popularity followed by declines before potentially becoming popular again.