Handsome is a unique and unusual given name of American origin. It is derived from the English adjective "handsome," which means physically attractive or good-looking. The name Handsome has been used sporadically throughout history, but it gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
There are several notable figures with the given name Handsome. One of the most well-known is Handsome Dick Manitoba, a Canadian musician and founding member of the punk rock band The Dictators. Another famous Handsome is Handsome Dan, the official mascot of Yale University since 1889. Despite its uniqueness, Handsome has not been among the top thousand names for newborn boys in recent years.
The name Handsome may appeal to parents looking for a distinctive and memorable name for their child. It is also a unisex name, as it can be used for both boys and girls. However, due to its unusual nature, it might take some getting used to for those unfamiliar with the name. Overall, Handsome is an uncommon and attention-grabbing choice for a given name.
The name Handsome has been a unique choice among parents in the United States over the past two and a half decades, with a total of 111 babies given this distinctive name between 1996 and 2023.
The popularity of the name Handsome has varied over the years. The highest number of births occurred in 2013, with 13 newborns given the name Handsome. This peak was followed by a slight decline in popularity, with only 6 births in 2014 and 8 births in 2016.
However, since 2016, there has been a resurgence in the use of the name Handsome, with 11 births in 2017, 9 births in 2020, and another peak of 13 births in 2021. The most recent data from 2022 shows a slight decrease again, with 5 births recorded for the year.
Despite its fluctuations in popularity, the name Handsome has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names over the past two and a half decades. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues or changes in the coming years.