Germaine is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Latin word "Germanus," which means "of Germany" or "belonging to Germania." However, despite its Germanic origins, Germaine has been widely used in France and other Francophone countries.
The name Germaine gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly among French writers. Notable figures such as Émile Zola and Victor Hugo used Germaine as a character name in their works. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Germaine de Staël, a prominent Swiss writer and intellectual who played a significant role in the development of Romanticism.
Germaine's popularity has fluctuated over time. While it was quite common in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its usage has since declined. However, there are still many people named Germaine today, particularly among older generations in Francophone countries.
In terms of its meaning, Germaine carries a strong historical and cultural significance due to its association with notable figures like Germaine de Staël. It also conveys a sense of belonging or connection to something larger than oneself, reflecting its origins as a name that denotes German or Germanic heritage.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe the trend of the given name Germaine over time in the United States.
The name Germaine experienced a significant increase in popularity during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. From just 6 births in 1895, it peaked at 27 births in 1904, indicating that Germaine was becoming more common as a girls' name.
The years from 1908 to 1922 were particularly popular for the name Germaine, with the number of births ranging between 31 and 171 per year. However, it's worth noting that there was a spike in popularity during World War I, with 145 births in 1920 and 155 births in 1921.
After 1922, the popularity of Germaine began to decline steadily but remained relatively stable until the late 1930s. The name saw a sharp drop after World War II, with fewer than 100 births per year from 1947 onwards.
In recent years, Germaine has become quite rare, with only a handful of babies named Germaine born each year since 2006. As of 2023, there have been just 5 recorded births for the name Germaine in the United States this year alone.
Overall, while Germaine was once a popular girls' name in the United States, its popularity has significantly declined over time, with very few babies being named Germaine today.