The first name Fleming is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word 'Flaith', which means 'gentle'. It was historically used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name in the 19th century. The name gained prominence due to famous figures like Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish scientist and Nobel laureate known for his discovery of penicillin.
The name Fleming experienced notable fluctuations in popularity over time, with peaks occurring around significant historical events or periods. The most dramatic increase coincides with World War I, during which there were notably high numbers of births each year from 1914 to 1921, reaching a peak of 24 births in 1919. This could suggest that Fleming was seen as a patriotic or warrior-like name during this time. However, the overall trend shows a steady decline in popularity since the early 1900s, with only 5 births recorded each year from 1992 onwards. Despite the fluctuations, the name Fleming has remained in use for over a century, with a total of 1017 births recorded between 1880 and 2006.