Hobart is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the German name Hubbert, which itself comes from the Germanic elements "hubert" meaning "brilliant" or "famous". The name Hobart has been used in England since the Middle Ages, although it was not particularly common.
The name Hobart gained popularity during the 19th century, likely due to its association with the city of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, Australia. The city was named after Sir John Hobart, a British army officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Tasmania from 1809 to 1813.
Despite its ties to Australia, the name Hobart remains relatively rare even in that country. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only around 700 people born between 1960 and 2008 had the given name Hobart.
Today, Hobart is still considered a somewhat unusual choice for a first name, but it may appeal to parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name with historic roots. The name has also been used as a surname in England and Australia since the Middle Ages. Some notable individuals with the surname Hobart include Sir Charles Joseph John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton, a British politician and diplomat who served as the Viceroy of India from 1872 to 1876.
In conclusion, Hobart is a unique and historic given name of English origin that has ties to both England and Australia. While it may not be particularly common, it is a distinctive choice with a meaningful meaning and an interesting history.
The name Hobart has a rich history of usage in the United States, with fluctuations in popularity over the years as shown by these annual birth statistics from 1885 to 2023.
The name first appeared on record in the early 19th century but gained traction towards the late 19th century. The years 1896 and 1897 saw a significant peak with 135 and 105 births respectively, indicating that Hobart was quite popular during this period.
This popularity continued into the early 20th century, with over 100 births recorded annually from 1915 to 1924. The highest point in this era was reached in 1921 with a total of 136 births.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline thereafter, with fewer than 100 births per year after 1927. This trend continued until the 1960s when the number of annual births with the name Hobart hovered between 10 and 30.
From the 1970s onwards, the name Hobart became quite rare, with fewer than 15 births recorded per year on average. The most recent data shows that in 2023, there were only 5 babies named Hobart at birth.
Despite this decline in popularity, it is fascinating to note that over the course of these 140 years (from 1885 to 2023), a total of 3806 children have been named Hobart in the United States. This illustrates how the name has persisted and remained meaningful to parents throughout different eras.
It's also worth noting that while the popularity of the name Hobart has decreased over time, it has never completely disappeared. Even today, there are still families who choose this unique name for their newborns.