Fillmore is a unique and distinctive male given name that originated in America. It was created by American author Henry James in his 1876 novel "The Bostonians," in which he named one of the characters 'Fillmore'. The name Fillmore is believed to have been inspired by Millard Fillmore, the thirteenth President of the United States.
Millard Fillmore served as president from 1850 to 1853 after the death of Zachary Taylor. He was a member of the Whig Party and played a significant role in the Compromise of 1850, which temporarily resolved the issue of slavery's expansion into the Western territories. Although Fillmore himself did not hold any slaves, he supported the Fugitive Slave Act as part of the compromise.
The name Fillmore is believed to mean 'full fortune' or 'complete prosperity'. However, this interpretation may be more of an invention than a true etymological meaning. There is no historical evidence to suggest that Millard Fillmore's name was derived from these meanings.
Despite its presidential connection, Fillmore has never been a popular given name in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, there have only been a few hundred babies named Fillmore since 1879, with most of them being born in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the name Fillmore is still relatively uncommon but continues to be used occasionally. It is often chosen for its unique sound and historical significance. Some famous people who share this distinctive name include Fillmore C. Cotton, a former United States Representative from California, and Fillmore H. Sanford, a former Governor of Minnesota.
The name Fillmore has a unique history of usage in the United States, with fluctuations in popularity over time. From 1895 to 1951, there were a total of 239 babies named Fillmore born in the U.S.
During this period, the highest number of births occurred in 1915 and 1918, with 19 babies named Fillmore each year. This indicates that these years may have been significant for some families choosing this name, possibly due to personal connections or events happening around those times.
However, the usage of Fillmore as a baby name was not consistent throughout this period. There were several years where only one or two babies were given this name (for example, 1925, 1930, and 1934), suggesting that it may have been considered less popular or even somewhat unique during those times.
In more recent decades, the name Fillmore has become even rarer. According to data from the Social Security Administration, only five boys were named Fillmore in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018 inclusive – an average of just over one per year. This shows that while Fillmore remains a legal given name option for parents in America, it is now extremely uncommon.
Despite its current rarity, the name Fillmore has been part of American history for well over a century. Each instance where it was chosen by parents reflects a personal decision and family story, making every baby named Fillmore unique not only in name but also in identity.