Agatha is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "agnus," which means "lamb." The name was originally used as an epithet for the Virgin Mary, who was often referred to as the "Lamb of God." Over time, Agatha became a popular name in its own right and is now commonly given to girls.
The name Agatha has been associated with several historical figures. Saint Agatha of Sicily is one of the most well-known. She was a young woman from Catania, Sicily who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Decius in the 3rd century AD. Her feast day is celebrated on February 5th.
Another notable figure named Agatha was Agatha Christie, the famous English writer known for her mystery novels featuring the detective Hercule Poirot. She was one of the best-selling novelists of all time and her works have been translated into at least 103 languages.
The name Agatha has also been popular in literature and pop culture. It is the name of the main character in "Agatha," a novel by American author Arthur Phillips, and it was used as the title for an episode of the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Overall, Agatha is a name with a rich history and several notable figures associated with it. Its Latin origin gives it a classic and elegant sound, making it a popular choice among parents looking for a distinctive yet timeless name for their daughters.
The name Agatha has been given to a total of 9,239 babies born in the United States since 1880. The number of newborns with this name has fluctuated over time, but it has seen a significant increase in recent years.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Agatha was not a particularly popular name. Between 1880 and 1923, there were fewer than 50 births per year on average. However, beginning in the mid-1920s, the popularity of the name started to rise steadily.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, Agatha was given to around 50-100 babies each year. During this period, the name's popularity reached its highest point in the mid-1940s, with around 70 births per year. However, after the 1960s, the popularity of Agatha began to decline once again.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the number of babies named Agatha averaged around 25-30 per year. This trend continued into the early 1990s, but since then, there has been a significant resurgence in the popularity of the name Agatha.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the number of newborn girls given the name Agatha began to increase once again. Between 2005 and 2023, the average number of births per year was around 40-70. The highest point during this period occurred in 2021, with a total of 137 babies named Agatha.
In recent years, Agatha has become increasingly popular as a name for newborn girls in the United States. This trend is likely to continue into the future, as parents seek unique and meaningful names for their children.