Cash is an unusual and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from the English word "cash," which refers to physical money or currency. The use of Cash as a given name is believed to have begun in the United States during the late 20th century.
The exact origins of using Cash as a given name are unclear, but it is thought that the trend may have been influenced by several factors. One possibility is that it was inspired by famous people with the surname Cash, such as country music legend Johnny Cash, whose popularity may have led some parents to consider Cash as a unique and memorable first name for their children.
Another factor that may have contributed to the popularity of Cash as a given name is the growing trend in the United States towards using occupational terms and financial-related words as names. Examples of this include other names like River, Blade, and Dollar, which have gained popularity as given names in recent decades.
Despite its unconventional origins, Cash has become an increasingly popular choice for parents looking for unique and memorable names for their children. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Cash has been among the top 1000 most popular boy names in the United States every year since 2007. While it is still relatively rare compared to more traditional names like John or James, Cash's popularity continues to grow, with over 500 babies named Cash in the United States each year.
In conclusion, Cash is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin that is derived from the English word for physical money. Its use as a given name is believed to have begun during the late 20th century, possibly influenced by famous people with the surname Cash or the trend towards using occupational terms and financial-related words as names. Despite its unconventional origins, Cash has become an increasingly popular choice for parents looking for unique and memorable names for their children.
The name Cash experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 20th century onwards, with a notable spike starting around the year 2000. In the early years recorded (1885-1972), there were typically fewer than 30 births per year. However, beginning in 1976, the number of annual births with the name Cash began to rise gradually, reaching triple digits for the first time in 1987 with 42 births.
The real surge in popularity occurred in the early 2000s. From 2002 onwards, the number of Cash-named babies born each year more than doubled every three years on average: from 131 in 2002 to 166 in 2003, then 228 in 2004, and so on. This trend culminated in a peak of 1483 births in 2013.
Since then, the number of Cash-named babies has fluctuated but remained consistently high, with over 1000 births per year from 2012 to 2022, excluding 2023 for which only partial data is available. In total, there have been approximately 25416 births recorded with the name Cash between 1885 and 2023.