Avalon is a name of Welsh origin that translates to "isle of apples." It is derived from the Welsh word "afal," which means apple. In Welsh mythology, Avalon is known as the mystical island where Arthur, the legendary king of Britain, is said to have been taken after his final battle to recover from his wounds.
The name Avalon has a rich history and has been associated with various meanings throughout different cultures and traditions. In some interpretations, Avalon represents abundance, fertility, and prosperity due to its connection with apples, which are symbols of these concepts in many cultures.
In Arthurian legend, Avalon is the location where the magical sword Excalibur was forged by the Lady of the Lake. It is also believed to be the place where King Arthur's final resting place lies, awaiting a time when he will rise again to defend Britain against its enemies. This association with King Arthur has contributed to the name Avalon becoming synonymous with enchantment, mystery, and otherworldly beauty.
Today, Avalon is often used as a female given name in English-speaking countries. While it may have roots in Welsh mythology and history, its popularity has grown independently of these origins and is now considered a unique and distinctive name choice for parents looking for something different for their children.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the name Avalon in the United States:
The name Avalon first appeared as a given name for babies born in the United States in 1907 with only five births recorded that year. This suggests that it was quite uncommon at the time.
From 1915 to 1934, there were fluctuations in the number of births with the name Avalon, ranging from nine births in 1915 to seven births in 1933. During this period, the popularity of the name remained relatively low and consistent, with an average of about ten births per year.
There was a notable increase in the number of babies named Avalon starting from 1937, with seventeen births recorded that year. This growth continued into the following decade, reaching twenty births in 1939 and fifty-eight births in 1942, indicating that the name began to gain traction during this time.
However, the popularity of the name Avalon seemed to wane again in the subsequent decades. Between 1944 and 1959, there were only five or seven births per year with the name Avalon on average, suggesting a decline in its usage.
It wasn't until the late 1980s that the name Avalon started to become popular once more. In 1987, twenty-seven babies were named Avalon, and this trend continued throughout the 1990s, with an increasing number of births recorded each year. The highest number of Avalon births in the 1990s was eighty-two in 2001.
The early 2000s marked a significant turning point for the name Avalon's popularity. Starting from 2006, there were consistently over one hundred births per year with the name Avalon, indicating that it had become quite popular by this time. The highest number of births recorded was in 2014, with 158 babies named Avalon.
More recently, the popularity of the name Avalon has remained high, with over one hundred births recorded each year from 2016 to 2023. In total, there have been 3935 births with the name Avalon in the United States since 1907. This demonstrates that while Avalon was once a rare and uncommon name, it has gained significant popularity over time and is now widely used as a given name for babies born in the United States.