John Lennon was an English musician and singer-songwriter who gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, Lennon's given name at birth was John Winston Lennon.
The name Lennon is of Irish origin and means "lover" or "little lion." It is believed that Lennon's father, Alfred Lennon, named his son after Winston Churchill, who was the First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I. However, it is not clear why Alfred chose the surname Lennon for himself and his family.
Throughout his career with the Beatles and beyond, John Lennon became a cultural icon known for his influential music and political activism. He was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment on December 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman, who had obsessed over Lennon's fame and perceived him as a false idol.
Today, Lennon's music continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans around the world. His solo albums, such as "Imagine" and "Plastic Ono Band," are considered classics in the realm of rock and roll, and his songwriting prowess has earned him numerous accolades and awards. Despite his tragic death over three decades ago, Lennon's legacy endures as a symbol of peace, love, and creativity.
The name Lennon experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. It started with a consistent average of around 5-12 births per year from 1913 to 1967. However, it began to gain traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, reaching its first peak of 21 births in 1969. The name continued to increase in popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with a notable spike to 48 births in 1981. It then entered its most popular era from 2000 onwards, reaching over 300 births per year by 2011 and peaking at 451 births in 2016. Despite a slight decrease since then, Lennon remains one of the more popular names today, with 410 births recorded in 2022. In total, there have been 7371 babies named Lennon over the past century.