Allegra is a female given name of Italian origin and Latin roots. It means "happy" or "cheerful," derived from the Italian word allegro, which translates to "lively" or "joyous." The name Allegra has been popular in Italy for centuries, but it gained international recognition thanks to several notable figures who bore this moniker.
One of the most famous bearers of the name Allegra was Allegra Ghirardelli, a member of the prominent Swiss-Italian chocolatier family. Born in 1859, she became known as an accomplished writer and artist, publishing numerous novels, poems, and essays under her own name and various pseudonyms.
Another notable figure with the name Allegra is British-born actress Allegra Rigby. Rigby gained fame for her role in the British television series "Waterloo Road" (2006-2015), playing the character of Michelle Bailey. Her compelling performances showcased her talent as an actor and helped to bring further recognition to the name Allegra.
In literature, Allegra appears as a character in Lord Byron's only complete poem, "Don Juan," published in 1819-1824. In the story, Allegra is the illegitimate daughter of the protagonist Don Juan and his lover Donna Inez. While Byron did not name his own daughter Allegra when she was born in 1817, he wrote a poem titled "Nugae puellae" for his infant daughter, which begins with the lines: "Allegra! thou hast lost a playful sprite."
The name Allegra has also been used by several other notable individuals throughout history, including musicians, artists, and even royalty. Princess Allegra of Liechtenstein is a member of the royal family of Liechtenstein, born in 1980 as the daughter of Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau.
Overall, the name Allegra carries with it a sense of joyfulness and vivacity, reflecting its Italian origins. Throughout history, many remarkable women have borne this moniker, contributing to its enduring popularity and charm as a female given name.
The name Allegra has a fascinating history of popularity and frequency in the United States, as indicated by these statistics spanning over a century.
In the early 1900s, Allegra was quite rare, with only five births recorded in 1902. However, it started to gain traction in the following decade, with 13 births in 1911, indicating that more parents were choosing this unique name for their daughters.
The 1910s and 1920s saw varying levels of popularity for Allegra. There was a peak in 1915 with 29 births, but the numbers fluctuated throughout the rest of the decade and into the 1920s, ranging from single digits to around 20 births per year.
The name's popularity seemed to stabilize in the 1930s and 1940s, with Allegra being given to around 8-16 girls each year. However, a significant shift occurred in the late 1950s, with a steady increase in the number of births for the next two decades.
The 1960s saw Allegra's popularity rise dramatically, from 7 births in 1958 to a peak of 41 births in 1970. This trend continued into the 1970s and 1980s, with the name reaching its highest point of popularity in 1988, when it was given to 154 girls.
The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a period of sustained high popularity for Allegra. However, around the mid-1990s, the name began a gradual decline in popularity, though it remained relatively common throughout the remainder of the century and into the new millennium.
In recent years, Allegra has continued to be a popular choice for parents, with around 40-70 births recorded annually between 2000 and 2023. As of 2023, the total number of Allegra births in the United States stands at an impressive 4655.
These statistics demonstrate the name Allegra's evolution in popularity over time, from its rare beginnings to its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and its continued presence as a popular choice for parents today.