Dominique is a French given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "Dominicus," which means "of the Lord" or "belonging to the Lord." The name was originally used in honor of Saint Dominic, who founded the Dominican Order in the 13th century.
The name Dominique gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages and has since become one of the most popular French given names. It is often shortened to Dodo or Mini for informal use. In English-speaking countries, the name is sometimes spelled Dominic instead of Dominique.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dominique. One famous example is Dominican friar and theologian Thomas Aquinas (also known as Saint Thomas Aquinas), who was born with the given name Tommaso but adopted the nameDominique when he joined the Dominican Order. Other notable Dominiques include French author Dominique Fernandez and Canadian singer-songwriter Domini Quebecois.
While Dominique is a traditionally male name, it has also been used occasionally for girls in France and other Francophone countries. However, it remains much more common as a boy's name. Overall, Dominique is a strong and timeless given name with a rich history and meaningful significance.
Statistics show that the name Domnique has had varying popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1985 and 2000, there were a total of 138 babies born with this name.
The highest number of births occurred in 1987, with 17 newborns named Domnique. This was followed by 16 births in 1986, indicating that the name may have been particularly popular during those years.
However, there were some years where the name's popularity seemed to decline. For instance, only 5 babies were named Domnique in both 1999 and 2000.
Overall, these statistics suggest that while Domnique has been a fairly uncommon name in the United States, its popularity has fluctuated over time. It is important to note that these numbers represent births during specific years and may not reflect current trends or the overall usage of the name throughout history.