Ianthe is a unique and distinctive female given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word 'ianthe', which means 'violet' or 'purple flower'. The name Ianthe was first used in the 19th century, popularized by English poet Letitia Elizabeth Landon's novel "The Improvisatrice," where she featured a character named Ianthe. The name has since gained some popularity but remains relatively rare and uncommon today.
The given statistics show the annual occurrences of the name Ianthe in the United States over several years. From 1914 to 2011, there were a total of 47 babies named Ianthe born in the U.S.
Looking at the data year by year, we can see that the name Ianthe was relatively consistent in popularity throughout much of the 20th century, with five births recorded in 1914, 1921, 1941, and 1956. There was a slight increase to nine births in 1970, followed by six births in 1972.
After a gap of several decades, the name Ianthe reappeared in recent years with seven babies being named Ianthe in 2011. This shows that while the name may not have been popular throughout most of the latter half of the century, it has seen some renewed interest in recent times.