Taylor is a given name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls over the centuries. The name is derived from an Old English surname that was originally an occupational name for a tailor, which comes from the Middle English word "taylour" meaning "tailor". The occupation of tailor was highly respected in medieval England due to the skill and craftsmanship required.
The name Taylor gained popularity during the 19th century as a given name for both sexes. It is believed that the use of Taylor as a given name may have been influenced by the Puritan movement, which encouraged simplicity and directness in naming practices.
Taylor has also been used as a surname for centuries. In some cases, the surname Taylor is not related to the occupation of tailor but rather comes from other sources such as Scottish or Irish surnames that mean "cheerful" or "bright".
Today, Taylor is a popular given name for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names in the United States since the mid-20th century.
In terms of its meaning, Taylor does not have any specific association with particular traits or characteristics beyond its occupational origin. However, like all names, it can take on personal significance based on individual experiences and associations.
Some notable people named Taylor include American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, American football player Taylor Bradbury, and English actor Taylor Dayne.
The name Taylor has seen a significant rise in popularity over the years in the United States. Initially, the number of births with this name was quite low, starting from just 7 births in 1951. However, by 1964, there were already 14 births that year.
The real boom for the name Taylor started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1976, there were 68 births with this name, but by 1982, this number had skyrocketed to 686 births. This trend continued into the 1980s, reaching a staggering 10,253 births in 1991.
However, the popularity of the name Taylor began to decline after its peak in the mid-1990s. In 1996, there were still approximately 19,153 births with this name, but by 2000, this number had dropped to around 15,079.
This downward trend continued throughout the early 2000s and into the current decade. By 2010, there were only about 5,900 births with the name Taylor, and this number continued to decrease each year thereafter, reaching a total of 1,369 births in 2022.
Despite this recent decline, it's clear that Taylor has been an incredibly popular name over the past few decades. In fact, according to the data provided, there have been a total of 328,443 births with the name Taylor in the United States since 1951. This underscores its enduring appeal as a baby name choice among American parents.