Cedric is a name of Scottish and Irish origin that has gained popularity in recent years due to its unique sound and attractive meaning. The name is derived from the Old English word "Cerdic," which means "natural leader" or "battle chief." This moniker was first used by Cerdic, the legendary founder of the West Saxon dynasty who lived during the 6th century.
In Scotland, Cedric is often associated with the fictional character Sir Cedric Errol from the novel "The Little Duke," written by John H. Newton in 1870. This work tells the story of a young boy named Errol who becomes the Duke of Cheshire and eventually marries Lady Mary Carpenter, a beautiful heiress.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Cedric. One such person was Sir Cedric Morris (1889-1982), an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. Another famous bearer of this name is Cedric the Entertainer, born Larry Donnell Reed Jr., an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director who rose to prominence in the late 1990s.
While Cedric has traditionally been more popular as a boy's name, it can also be used for girls. In fact, some sources suggest that the name is now becoming more unisex, with parents choosing it regardless of their child's gender due to its strong and appealing sound.
In summary, Cedric is an attractive Scottish and Irish name that means "natural leader" or "battle chief." It has a rich history dating back to the 6th century, as well as several notable bearers throughout time. With its unique sound and appealing meaning, it's no surprise that Cedric has gained popularity in recent years as a boy's name and is even being considered more frequently for girls.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the popularity of the name Cedric in the United States over time.
From 1890 to around 1970, there was a steady increase in the number of births with the name Cedric. It started with only 5 births in 1890 and reached a peak of 977 births in 1982. This indicates that during this period, the name Cedric gained significant popularity among parents choosing names for their newborns.
However, from around 1970 onwards, there was a noticeable decline in the number of babies named Cedric. The peak was reached in 1982 with 977 births, after which the numbers started to decrease steadily. By 2023, the total number of births with the name Cedric had fallen to 205.
This trend suggests that while Cedric was once a popular choice among parents in the United States, its popularity has since declined and continues to do so. Despite this, it remains one of the thousands of unique names chosen by parents each year for their children.