Thayer is a unique and distinctive male given name of American origin. It was coined by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his 1852 novel "The Blithedale Romance". The protagonist of this novel, named Coverdale, encounters a man named Thayer who is described as a "man of superior gifts" but also one who is prone to bouts of melancholy. This character was likely inspired by the author's own cousin of the same name.
While there is no specific meaning or symbolism directly attributed to the name Thayer, it has been suggested that Hawthorne may have derived it from an old English word "thayer", which means "to cause to tremble" or "to shake". This interpretation could be seen as a reference to the emotional turmoil experienced by the character in the novel.
Today, Thayer is still relatively rare as a given name, but it has been used sporadically throughout history. It gained some popularity during the mid-20th century and has since experienced brief periods of increased usage. Despite its rarity, the name Thayer carries a certain literary heritage and intrigue due to its origin in Nathaniel Hawthorne's work.
In terms of its usage as a surname, Thayer is of English origin and derives from a medieval occupational name for a ropemaker or sailor. The name may also have been derived from an Old Norse personal name, Þórhallr, which consists of the elements "thór" meaning "Thor" (the god of thunder) and "hallr" meaning "powerful". However, it is important to note that these origins are not applicable to the given name Thayer as discussed here.
In conclusion, Thayer is a distinctive male given name of American origin, coined by Nathaniel Hawthorne for his novel "The Blithedale Romance". While its meaning and symbolism are not explicitly defined, some suggest it may derive from an old English word related to trembling or shaking. Despite its rarity as a given name, Thayer carries a certain literary heritage and intrigue due to its origin in Hawthorne's work.
The given statistics show the number of births for the name Thayer in the United States each year from 1936 to 2018. Over this period, there were a total of 79 babies named Thayer born in the U.S.
Looking at the yearly data, we can see that the name Thayer has had varying levels of popularity over time. The most popular years for the name were:
* 2003 with 7 births
* 2018 with 7 births
These years are tied for the highest number of births for the name Thayer during this period.
On the other hand, there have been several years where only one baby was named Thayer:
* 1936 with 5 births
* 1946 with 5 births
* 1947 with 5 births
* 1961 with 5 births
These years show that the name Thayer has not always been a popular choice, but it has still seen some use over time.
Overall, while the name Thayer may not have reached the heights of popularity enjoyed by some other names during this period, it has nonetheless maintained a steady presence in the U.S. baby naming landscape, with at least one birth recorded each year since 1936.