The name Legion is of Latin origin and has a significant historical and cultural background. It comes from the word "legion" which was used to denote a large number of people or things.
In ancient Rome, a legion was a unit of soldiers numbering about 5,000 men. This term was later adopted by the early Christian church to refer to its members collectively as "the legion of Christ." The most famous reference to the name Legion is found in the New Testament of the Bible (Mark 5:9), where Jesus casts demons out of a man and sends them into a herd of pigs. The demons identify themselves as "Legion," suggesting that there were many of them.
Over time, the name Legion has been associated with various groups and organizations. For example, the Catholic organization known as the Legion of Mary was founded in Ireland in 1921 to encourage laypeople to participate in apostolic work under the direction of their priests. In popular culture, Legion is also used as a title or code name for characters in movies, books, and video games that reflect strength, power, or uniqueness.
Despite its historic and cultural significance, Legion has not been a common given name until recent years. However, it has gained popularity as a unisex name due to its unique sound and strong associations with leadership, unity, and power. Parents who choose this name for their child may be drawn to its boldness and originality, or they may wish to evoke the strength and unity suggested by its origin.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Legion in the United States from 2003 to 2023. Over this two-decade period, a total of 340 babies were named Legion.
The popularity of the name Legion seems to have fluctuated over time. The earliest years on record show a low number of births with this name, with only five babies named Legion in both 2003 and 2005. However, there was a notable increase in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with the highest number of Legion-named babies born in 2010 (24 births) and 2014 (22 births).
After this peak, the popularity of the name Legion stabilized, with an average of around 20-25 babies named Legion each year between 2016 and 2022. Interestingly, there was a slight increase in the number of Legion-named babies born in 2023 (17 births), which may indicate that the name is continuing to gain traction among parents.
Overall, while the name Legion may not be one of the most popular choices for newborns in the United States, it has shown some degree of popularity and consistency over the past two decades.