The name Easter is of German origin and means "eastern, from the east". It is a derivative of the Old High German word "Oster", which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*austro-", meaning "east".
The name Easter has been used historically as a given name for both males and females. In medieval times, it was more commonly used as a male name. However, in modern times, it is typically used as a female name.
One famous person with the name Easter is Easter Magoo, a character from the popular cartoon series "Mr. Magoo". Easter Magoo is Mr. Magoo's nephew and is known for his mischievous behavior and love of practical jokes.
Despite its unique sound, Easter is not a particularly common name in English-speaking countries. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, only 16 girls were named Easter in 2020, making it one of the least popular names that year.
Overall, Easter is a distinctive and historic name with a clear meaning and origin. While it may not be widely used today, its unique sound and meaning make it a memorable choice for parents looking for an uncommon name for their child.
Based on the statistics provided for the given name Easter in the United States, we can observe an interesting trend over time.
From 1880 to 1962, there were consistently more than ten births per year with some fluctuations. The years 1880 to 1889 saw an average of around 15 births per year, with the highest number in this period being 24 births in 1888.
The early 20th century showed a significant increase in popularity for the name Easter, with the total number of births ranging from 34 to 129 between 1900 and 1926. The peak during this time was reached in 1918 with 125 births.
However, starting from the mid-1960s, there was a substantial decrease in the number of babies named Easter at birth. From 1963 to 1970, fewer than 25 births per year were recorded each year. This trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with the lowest point being just 5 births in both 1997 and 2004.
The early 21st century showed a slight increase, with 7 births recorded in both 2000 and 2007. However, from 2010 onwards, the number of births named Easter fell again to between five and seven per year.
In total, there have been 5513 babies named Easter born in the United States since 1880. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, this data demonstrates that the name Easter has remained a unique choice for parents throughout American history.