Lupe is a unique and distinctive given name that has its roots in Mexican culture. It is a short form of the Spanish female given name Guadalupe, which means "River of Wolves" or "Waters of the Wolf." This name is derived from the patron saint of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is believed to have appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in 1531.
The story goes that Juan Diego was instructed by the Virgin Mary to go to the bishop and ask for a church to be built in her honor. However, when Juan Diego arrived at the bishop's residence, he was initially met with skepticism. To prove herself, Our Lady of Guadalupe told Juan Diego to gather roses from the top of Tepeyac Hill, despite it being December and there being no flowers due to the cold weather. When Juan Diego returned to the bishop with his cloak full of roses, he found that an image of Our Lady had been miraculously imprinted on the fabric.
From this story, the name Guadalupe became synonymous with miracles and faith in Mexico. It is often given to girls born around the time of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which falls on December 12th each year.
While Lupe may be less commonly used as a standalone given name in other parts of the world, it remains popular among families of Mexican descent who wish to honor their cultural heritage. It is also sometimes used as a unisex name, although it is more often associated with females.
In terms of its sound and appearance, Lupe is a short, catchy name that rolls off the tongue easily. It consists of just three letters, making it simple yet distinctive. Its spelling is straightforward, with no unusual characters or silent letters to trip up pronunciation.
Overall, Lupe is a name with deep cultural significance and a unique history tied to one of Mexico's most important religious figures. Whether used as a standalone given name or as a short form of Guadalupe, it remains a beloved choice among families who wish to honor their Mexican heritage.
These statistics show a dramatic rise and fall of the name Lupe's popularity over time. The name was quite uncommon from 1885 to around 1917, with fewer than 30 births per year on average during this period. However, starting in 1918, there was a significant increase in the number of girls named Lupe, reaching a peak of 443 births in 1927.
The name's popularity continued to rise throughout the 1930s and 1940s, with over 300 births per year on average during this time. However, after 1950, there was a steady decline in the number of girls named Lupe, dropping below 200 births per year in 1952, and continuing to decrease until the 1980s.
From the 1980s onwards, the name Lupe became increasingly rare, with fewer than 60 births per year on average during this period. The most recent data available shows that there were only 5 births in 2022. Overall, a total of 18,606 girls were named Lupe between 1885 and 2022.