Tory is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. The name is believed to have derived from the old Norse word "þórr," which means "Thor." Thor was the god of thunder in Norse mythology, known for his strength and courage.
The name Tory has been used predominantly as a male name throughout history. However, in recent years, it has also started to be used as a female name. This shift in usage can be attributed to the growing trend of using names with a more gender-neutral sound or meaning.
Tory has not been a particularly popular name throughout history. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Tory has only appeared in the top 1000 baby names for boys once, in 2005. Similarly, for girls, it has never made it into the top 1000 names.
Despite its lack of popularity, Tory is a name with a rich history and an interesting meaning. It is a name that stands out due to its unique spelling and its association with a powerful figure from Norse mythology. Whether used for a boy or girl, Tory is a name that is sure to be memorable and distinctive.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Tory has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past eight decades in the United States.
The name first appeared with a notable number of births in 1947 and 1948, with eight births each year. However, it seems that Tory was not yet widely popular as the number of births dropped to five in both 1949 and 1950.
Between 1953 and 1958, the name's popularity grew steadily, with a peak of 18 births in 1957. The late 1950s marked a turning point for Tory, as its popularity began to soar in the following decade.
From 1960 to 1972, there was a consistent increase in the number of babies named Tory each year, with a significant jump from 47 births in 1960 to 164 births in 1972. This period marked the most popular era for the name Tory.
The trend continued into the late 1970s and early 1980s, reaching its peak popularity with 286 births in 1977. However, it seems that parents began to shift their preferences away from the name Tory around this time.
From 1983 onwards, there was a steady decline in the number of babies named Tory each year. The most significant drop occurred between 1982 and 1983, with a decrease from 163 births to 151 births.
This downward trend continued until the early 2000s, with a notable low point of 23 births in 2021. However, there has been some recent stabilization in popularity, with 35 births each year between 2022 and 2023.
In total, over the span of eight decades from 1947 to 2023, there have been a cumulative 6,940 babies named Tory born in the United States. While it is not one of the most popular names today, its history demonstrates that Tory has enjoyed periods of significant popularity and remains a name with some enduring appeal for American parents.