Kirk is a unique and distinctive given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic word "ceircc", which means "church". The name has been associated with the Kirk, which is the Scottish word for church.
The name Kirk was popularized by Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island", where one of the main characters is named Long John Silver's right-hand man, Israel Hands. This character is often referred to simply as "Kirk".
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures with the given name Kirk. Some of these include American actor and director, Kirk Douglas (1916-2020), who was known for his roles in films such as "Spartacus" and "The Bad and the Beautiful". Another famous bearer of the name is Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, whose full name is Christopher Alexander "Kirk" Hadfield.
Overall, Kirk is a strong and powerful given name with a rich history and a distinct meaning. It has been worn by many notable figures throughout history and continues to be a popular choice for parents today looking for a unique and meaningful name for their child.
These statistics show a fascinating journey of the name Kirk over time. The name starts quite modestly with single-digit numbers of births per year from 1880 to around 1940. However, it begins to gain traction in the mid-20th century, with births peaking at an impressive 2489 in 1963.
Interestingly, after this peak, there's a significant decline in the number of newborns named Kirk, which continues into the late 20th and early 21st centuries. From around 2000 onwards, the name becomes quite rare, with fewer than 100 births per year recorded on most occasions.
The total number of births with the name Kirk over this entire period is 67969, which indicates that while it may not have been one of the most popular names throughout history, it has still been chosen for a considerable number of children.