Shavelle is a unique and distinctive given name of African American origin. It is believed to have been created by the American author and poet Sapphire, who used it for one of her characters in her acclaimed novel Push, later adapted into the film Precious. The character Shavelle is depicted as being tough and independent, but also vulnerable and sensitive, which has contributed to the name's growing popularity among parents looking for a strong yet unique name for their daughters.
The meaning behind the name Shavelle is not explicitly stated in Sapphire's work, but some people interpret it as a blend of the names Shava (which means "peace" in Swahili) and Elle (a French diminutive of the name Elizabeth, meaning "God is my oath"). This interpretation gives the name Shavelle a double meaning of peace and God's promise or oath. However, this interpretation is not universally accepted, as Sapphire herself has not confirmed it.
Despite its African American origins and increasing popularity in recent years, Shavelle remains relatively rare compared to other girls' names. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Shavelle was given to fewer than 10 newborn girls each year in the United States between 2004 and 2018. This makes it a unique choice for parents looking for an unusual yet meaningful name for their daughters.
In terms of its history, Shavelle is a fairly new name that has only been in use since the early 2000s, following the publication of Sapphire's novel Push and its subsequent adaptation into film. Since then, it has gained some popularity among parents looking for a strong yet unique name for their daughters, particularly those with African American heritage.
Overall, Shavelle is an intriguing and distinctive given name with African American origins and a possible double meaning related to peace and divine promise or oath. Despite its growing popularity in recent years, it remains relatively rare compared to other girls' names, making it a unique choice for parents looking for something different for their daughters.
The name Shavelle has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by these birth statistics. The highest number of births recorded for this name was 17 in 1988. This suggests that there might have been a particular trend or influence around this time period that led to an increase in parents choosing Shavelle as their baby girl's name.
Following the peak in 1988, the annual birth count fluctuated but remained relatively stable, with numbers ranging from 5 to 14 births per year between 1984 and 2014. This consistency could indicate that Shavelle has retained a steady level of popularity among parents over this extended period.
Looking at the most recent data available, there were 7 births recorded for the name Shavelle in both 2000 and 2008. Then, there was a slight decrease to 5 births each in 2003 and 2014. This might suggest that while Shavelle is still a chosen name, its popularity may have dipped slightly in recent years.
In total, from the years 1966 to 2014 inclusive, there were 122 recorded births for the name Shavelle in the United States. This shows that over nearly five decades, this particular name has had a consistent presence among newborn girls in America.