The name German is of Latin origin and means "from Germany". It is derived from the Old French word "germain", which itself comes from the Germanic word "* Germainaz", meaning "spear-man" or "warrior". The name has been used in various forms throughout history, with notable figures including Germanicus Julius Caesar, a Roman general of the 1st century AD, and Emperor germanicus I (also known as Barbarossa), who ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 to 1190. Today, the name German is still used in many countries around the world, although it may be more commonly associated with the Germanic language family rather than the country of Germany itself.
The name German has been given to a total of 10,071 babies born in the United States over the past century and a half, based on available data from 1882 to 2023.
The number of births per year has varied significantly over this period. In the early years recorded (1882-1910), there were fewer than 10 births each year, with some years having only one or two occurrences of the name German. However, by the late 1950s and early 1960s, the number of births began to increase steadily, reaching over 40 per year by 1963.
This trend continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with the name German being given to over 100 babies born each year from 1975 onwards. The highest point was reached in 1989, with a total of 269 births that year.
However, since then, there has been a decline in the popularity of the name German. By 2020 and 2021, only around 100 babies were named German each year. Despite this decrease in recent years, the name German remains relatively uncommon compared to other names given to thousands or even tens of thousands of babies born each year.
In conclusion, while the name German has seen peaks and troughs in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States, it has maintained a consistent presence as a given name. Its total number of births is not insignificant, but it remains a less common choice compared to many other names given to newborns during this period.