Everything about the name MODESTY
Meaning, origin, history
The origins of the name Modesty can be traced back to the Latin word 'modus', meaning 'measure' or 'mode'. From this root emerged the Late Latin adjective 'moderatus', which meant 'measured' or 'temperate'. The English adjective 'modest' was first recorded in the late 14th century and has been used to describe people who are unpretentious, self-effacing, and not overly proud of their abilities.
The use of Modesty as a given name is relatively recent. It gained some traction in the United States during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, perhaps as a reaction against the increasing materialism and celebrity culture of modern society. Parents may have chosen this name for their daughters as a way to encourage humility, restraint, and a sense of proportion in life.
While Modesty is not a particularly common name, it has been borne by some notable individuals throughout history. For example, Modesty Blaine was the pseudonym used by a British author who wrote several popular novels in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, there have been several historical figures with the surname 'Modesty', such as the American politician Thomas Modesty (1783-1852).
In summary, Modesty is an English given name for females that derives from the Latin word 'modus' and connotes qualities such as simplicity, humbleness, and reserve. Its use as a given name is relatively recent but has gained some popularity in recent years, perhaps as a reaction against modern society's emphasis on materialism and celebrity culture. While not particularly common, Modesty has been borne by some notable individuals throughout history.
See also
Popularity of the name MODESTY since 1880
Birth evolution
Popularity analysis
Based on the statistics provided, the name Modesty has seen a varied trend of popularity over the past six decades in the United States.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 baby names list in the year 1960 with five babies being named Modesty. This number remained consistent for another decade until it peaked at thirteen births in 1982, nearly tripling its popularity from the previous years.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a steady increase in the number of newborn girls named Modesty, with numbers ranging between five to twenty-three births per year. The name's popularity seemed to stabilize during this period, indicating that it had begun to gain traction among parents looking for unique yet meaningful names for their daughters.
However, from 1996 onwards, there was a noticeable fluctuation in the number of babies named Modesty each year. While some years saw an increase - such as twenty-two births in 1997 and nineteen in 2021 - others showed a significant drop, like only six births in both 2022 and 2023.
Overall, throughout these sixty-three years (1960-2023), there were a total of 558 babies named Modesty born in the United States. This demonstrates that while the name may not have been extremely popular every year, it has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names since 1960.