Hope is a female given name of English origin. It is derived from the noun 'hope', which means 'to desire something that may or may not happen'. The name Hope has been used in literature and popular culture, most notably by Emily Dickinson in her poem "Hope is the thing with feathers" and by J.K. Rowling in her Harry Potter series.
The name Hope was first recorded as a given name in the late 17th century. It gained popularity during the Victorian era (1837-1901) when many names of virtues were used for girls, such as Charity, Faith and Grace. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that Hope began to be widely used as a given name.
Today, Hope is considered a classic name with a modern feel. It has been steadily popular in recent years, ranking within the top 1,000 names for girls in many English-speaking countries. The name Hope can also be found in other languages, such as Spanish (Esperanza) and Swedish (Hoppet).
Based on the provided statistics, the name Hope has experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest recorded birth of a girl named Hope was in 1880, with only 6 occurrences that year.
The name's popularity peaked during the early to mid-20th century, particularly in the 1920s and 1940s. In 1920 and 1921, there were 18 births each year for girls named Hope. This high remained consistent until it slightly dipped to 16 births in 1922. The popularity then decreased steadily over the following decade, reaching a low of 5 births per year from 1936 to 1940.
However, the name Hope experienced another resurgence in the late 1940s and early 1950s, with 8 births each year from 1947 to 1951. After this period, there was a decline in popularity once again, with only 5 births per year recorded between 1965 and 1968.
In the late 20th century, Hope's popularity seemed to have stabilized at around 5-10 births per year, fluctuating slightly over time. The most recent data from 2015 to 2023 shows that the name has maintained a moderate level of popularity, with an average of about 7 births per year.
In total, there have been 556 recorded births for girls named Hope in the United States since 1880. This figure demonstrates that while the name may not have consistently high popularity, it has remained a relevant choice among parents throughout many decades.