The name Fidelis is of Latin origin and its meaning is "loyal" or "faithful". It was a common name during the Roman Empire and was often given to slaves who were deemed to be trustworthy by their masters.
The name Fidelis is believed to have been popularized by Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, also known as Fidelis of Germany. He was a priest who was martyred in the 17th century for his faith during a time of religious persecution. After his death, he became a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness, and his name was adopted by many as a way to honor him.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Fidelis is the patron saint of lawyers and those who work in law enforcement. His feast day is celebrated on April 24th.
Today, Fidelis is not as commonly used as it once was, but it still appears occasionally as both a first name and a surname. It is often associated with a strong sense of loyalty and faithfulness, reflecting its Latin origins.
Based on the statistics provided, it appears that the name Fidelis has been used consistently but infrequently over the past century in the United States. The highest number of births with this name occurred between 1916 and 1917, with 8 babies named Fidelis born in those years combined.
Interestingly, there was a gap of nearly 45 years without any recorded births with the name Fidelis before it resurfaced again in 2001. Since then, the name has been used consistently but sparingly, with an average of around 5 births per year between 2001 and 2011.
Overall, a total of 49 babies were named Fidelis over this span of time across America. This suggests that while not particularly popular or trendy, the name Fidelis has maintained a steady presence among newborns throughout much of the past century.