Dedra is a name of uncertain origin and meaning. Some sources suggest that it may have originated as a variant spelling of the name "Deidre," which is of Irish origin and means "dark-haired" or "sorrow." However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.
The name Dedra first appeared in the United States in the late 19th century, but it was not until the mid-20th century that it began to gain popularity. In the years between 1950 and 1970, the name peaked in popularity, reaching its highest rank of #436 in 1968.
Despite its uncertain origins and meaning, Dedra is a unique and distinctive name that has been carried by several notable individuals throughout history. One famous bearer of the name is American actress Dedra Woods, who was born in 1975 and is best known for her role in the television series "The Wire."
Overall, while the origin and meaning of the name Dedra may remain somewhat mysterious, it has nevertheless left its mark on history through the accomplishments of those who have borne it.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Dedra experienced significant popularity and variation in usage over time in the United States.
The name first appeared with a notable number of births in 1944, with 18 babies named Dedra. This was followed by a slight decrease to 16 births in 1945 before increasing again to 19 births in 1946 and peaking at 21 births in 1947.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily after 1948, with only 10 births recorded that year. Despite some fluctuations, this downward trend continued until the late 1950s when the number of babies named Dedra remained relatively stable between 30 and 63 births per year from 1953 to 1959.
The name Dedra then experienced a significant resurgence in popularity during the early 1960s, with a steady increase in the number of births each year. This peak period lasted from 1960 to 1964, with the highest number of babies named Dedra occurring in 1963 at 190 births.
However, this popularity was short-lived, and the name's usage began to decline once again after 1964. The number of babies named Dedra continued to decrease each year until it reached a low point in 1972 with only 121 births recorded that year.
The usage of the name Dedra fluctuated between 74 and 130 births per year from 1975 to 1986. After this period, the popularity of the name declined further, with fewer than 60 babies named Dedra each year until the late 1980s.
The name's usage remained relatively low throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, with fewer than 50 births per year recorded from 1990 to 2003. The last notable occurrence of the name Dedra in the United States was in 1998 and 1999, with 25 babies named Dedra each year.
Overall, based on these statistics, the name Dedra has experienced periods of popularity followed by periods of decline in usage over time in the United States. Despite its ups and downs, the total number of babies named Dedra in the United States from 1944 to 2007 is a notable 4,418 births.