Raymond is a name of French origin that comes from the Germanic name Raginald. The name means "wise protection" or "wise power." It is composed of two elements: "ragin," which means "advice" or "counsel," and "-mandu," which means "protection" or "power."
The name Raymond has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was popular among the nobility in France and England during this time period. One of the most notable figures named Raymond was Saint Raymond Nonnatus, who was born in Catalonia in 1204. He became a Franciscan friar and is now the patron saint of pregnant women, mid-wives, and childbirth.
The name Raymond has also been associated with royalty throughout history. King Raymond IV of Toulouse led the First Crusade in the 11th century, while King Raymond Berenguer I of Barcelona ruled from 1076 to 1082.
Today, Raymond remains a popular given name for boys. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it was the 395th most popular boy's name in 2020. It is also often used as a surname. In some cases, it can be shortened to Ray or Raymon.
Overall, Raymond is a strong and historical name with a meaningful meaning that has been carried on through generations.
The popularity of the name Raymond has seen significant fluctuations over time. Initially, it was quite popular with a steady increase from 546 births in 1890 to a peak of 1737 births in 1910. However, this trend reversed drastically after World War I, with a sharp decline to just 2404 births in 2000. Since then, the popularity has continued to decrease, reaching an all-time low of 900 births in 2023. Despite these fluctuations, over the entire period from 1880 to 2023, a total of 778062 babies were named Raymond.