Sheridan is a name of Irish origin that has become popular worldwide over the years. It is derived from the Irish surname 'O'Sheridán', which was originally 'Ó Siorgáin'. This surname comes from the Gaelic word 'síor' meaning 'peaceful', and 'gean' meaning 'love'.
The name Sheridan gained prominence during the 18th century when Richard Brinsley Sheridan, an Irish playwright and politician, rose to fame in England. He was known for his wit and humor, and his plays were widely acclaimed during his time.
Prior to Sheridan's success, the name was relatively uncommon. However, after his rise to fame, it began to appear more frequently as a given name for boys. Today, Sheridan is still predominantly used as a male name, but it has also started to be used occasionally for girls in some countries.
In recent years, the name Sheridan has been popularized further by celebrities such as actor Jim Sheridan and singer-songwriter Halsey (whose real name is Ashley Frangipane), who has a song titled "Sheridan" on her album "Badlands".
Despite its Irish roots, Sheridan has become a global name with no particular cultural associations. It has a strong, sophisticated sound that appeals to many parents around the world looking for an uncommon yet memorable name for their child.
The name Sheridan has seen a significant increase in popularity over the years, with a total of 5560 babies born with this name in the United States since 1928. The name's peak in popularity occurred between 1994 and 2002, during which time it was consistently among the top 300 names for newborn girls each year.
In 1994, there were 172 births with the name Sheridan, marking a significant increase from previous years. This trend continued through 2002, when 225 babies were named Sheridan, making it one of the most popular girl's names that year.
However, since 2003, the popularity of the name Sheridan has declined steadily. In recent years, there have been fewer than 100 births with this name annually. For example, in 2022, there were only 25 babies named Sheridan.
Despite its decline in popularity, Sheridan remains a unique and distinctive name with a rich history and a significant number of bearers throughout the decades. It will be interesting to see if its popularity rebounds in future years or continues to trend downward.