Brigit is a female given name of Irish origin, derived from the ancient Celtic goddess Brigid or Brighid. The name means "exalted one" or "high queen," and it is often associated with fire, poetry, and wisdom.
The goddess Brigid was revered as the patroness of craftspeople, particularly smiths, and she was also invoked for protection against evil spirits. She is believed to have been a real historical figure, possibly a chief's daughter or a poet, who became deified after her death.
In Ireland, St. Brigit (also known as St. Bride) emerged as a prominent Christian figure in the 5th century. She was reputedly a member of the noble Irish family that had venerated the goddess Brigid before converting to Christianity. As a devout Christian woman, she established a double monastery at Kildare, which became an important center of learning and spiritual life.
The name Brigit has been popular among Christians in Ireland for centuries, and it is still widely used today. It is also sometimes spelled Bridget or Bride. Despite its religious connotations, the name Brigit remains deeply rooted in ancient Celtic mythology and continues to be associated with the goddess Brigid's attributes of wisdom, creativity, and protection.
In summary, Brigit is an Irish female given name derived from the ancient Celtic goddess Brigid, meaning "exalted one" or "high queen." The name has a rich history and cultural significance, rooted in both pagan mythology and Christian spirituality.
Based on the statistics provided for the given name Brigit in the United States from 1954 to 2021, we can observe some trends and fluctuations over time.
From 1954 to 1976, there was a gradual increase in the number of births with the name Brigit, reaching a peak of 46 births in 1976. This period saw a consistent rise in popularity for this name, with an average of about 20 births per year.
However, from 1977 onwards, there was a notable decrease in the number of babies named Brigit each year. The highest recorded birth count during this timeframe was 35 births in both 1997 and 1998. Between 1987 and 2004, the annual births fluctuated between single digits (8 to 26) with an average of around 15 births per year.
In more recent years, from 2005 to 2021, there was another decline in the popularity of the name Brigit. The annual births ranged from 5 to 19, with a total of 87 births during this period. It is worth noting that the data for 2017 and 2019 are missing.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can conclude that while Brigit was moderately popular as a baby girl's name in the United States from the mid-50s to the late 70s, its popularity has since declined significantly.