Elhadji is a male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "servant of the honored one." It is derived from the Arabic words "al" and "hadj," which refer to someone who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of Islam. The name Elhadji is often associated with people of West African descent, particularly those from Senegal, as it is a popular name among Muslims in this region.
The use of the name Elhadji dates back to the medieval period, when it was given to men who had completed the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Over time, the name became more widespread and was used regardless of whether the bearer had actually made the pilgrimage or not. Today, Elhadji is a common name among Muslim communities around the world.
In some cultures, the name Elhadji is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to its bearer. It is also sometimes associated with nobility or high social status, as it was traditionally given to men of importance who had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Some notable figures with the name Elhadji include Elhadji Diouf, a Senegalese football player who played for teams such as Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers, and Elhadji Ba, a Senegalese musician known for his contributions to mbalax music. Despite its popularity among Muslims, the name Elhadji is not limited to any particular religion or cultural background, and can be used by anyone looking for a unique and meaningful name with deep historical roots.
The given statistics show the annual occurrences of the name Elhadji among newborns in the United States between the years 1998 and 2023. Over this period, there were a total of 163 births with the name Elhadji.
Starting from 1998, we observe an initial low frequency with only 5 births that year. The number of births increases to 10 in the year 2000 and remains relatively stable around this figure over the next few years, reaching a peak of 11 births in 2003.
There is some fluctuation in the subsequent years with numbers ranging from 6 to 10 births annually between 2004 and 2009. After a gap in data for 2010 and 2014, we resume tracking in 2011 with another low frequency of 6 births, followed by increases to 8 births each in 2012 and 2013.
The year 2015 sees another dip to 6 births, but there is a resurgence starting from 2017 with 10 births recorded that year. This trend continues into the most recent years with 10 births in 2021 and an even higher figure of 12 births in 2022. The latest data point available is for the year 2023, where we observe a decrease to 6 births.
Overall, while there are fluctuations in the frequency of the name Elhadji from year to year, it appears that its usage has been increasing relatively consistently over time, with the most recent years showing higher numbers of newborns given this name compared to earlier decades.