Hall is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from Old Norse elements 'hol' meaning 'hollow' or 'concave', and 'bjorn' signifying 'bear'. It gained popularity as a masculine name but has also been used for females in recent times. The name Hall was first recorded in the 11th century during the Danish occupation of England, although its use as a given name is more prevalent from the late Middle Ages onwards. It was most commonly used in the 19th century before declining somewhat in popularity in the 20th century. However, it has seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly for females.
The name Hall experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half, with a notable peak during World War I. Between 1915 and 1918, there were consistently high numbers of births, reaching as many as 33 in 1918. However, from the late 1920s onwards, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily, with only a handful of births per year recorded since the mid-1950s. Interestingly, there has been a slight resurgence in recent years, with nine births recorded in both 2021 and 2023. Overall, the name Hall has seen a total of 864 births from 1881 to 2023.