The name Jodean is of English origin and it means "God is Gracious". It was popularized by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem "The Courtship of Miles Standish" where he used it for one of the main characters, a noblewoman named Jodean. The character was based on a real historical figure known as Myles Standish's wife, who was said to have been very kind and compassionate. Therefore, the name Jodean has a long history and is associated with positive qualities such as kindness and gracefulness.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Jodean experienced varying popularity over several decades in the United States. The name first appeared in the records with five births each in 1925 and 1929, suggesting a minimal but consistent presence during that time.
The name's popularity started to grow in the early 1930s, with eight births recorded in 1932, followed by seven in 1933. However, it fluctuated again between five births per year from 1935 to 1940, showing a decline in popularity.
A notable spike occurred during the late 1940s and early 1950s, with peaks of thirteen births both in 1947 and 1948. This trend continued into the mid-1950s, with nineteen births recorded in 1956 and eighteen in 1957. This period marked a significant increase in popularity for the name Jodean.
However, by the late 1950s and early 1960s, the popularity of the name began to decline once more. The number of births per year fluctuated between nine and twenty-eight, with several years having fewer than ten births each.
From the mid-1970s onwards, the name Jodean became increasingly rare in the United States. Only a handful of births were recorded in the years 1974 to 1991, with five or fewer occurrences each year.
In total, based on the provided data, there were 448 births with the name Jodean recorded in the United States between 1925 and 1991. While it experienced periods of popularity, particularly during the mid-twentieth century, the name's overall usage has been relatively uncommon throughout history.