Heaven is a unique and beautiful name of English origin that has gained popularity in recent years. The name literally means "heaven," the realm of the afterlife where the blessed reside according to many religions.
The use of Heaven as a given name is believed to have begun in the late 19th century, but it was not until the 20th century that it started to appear more frequently. In the United States, for instance, its usage peaked in the 1980s and 1990s before gradually declining.
Heaven has been used as a name for both girls and boys, although it is more commonly associated with females. Some famous people who bear this name include American actress Heaven King and British singer-songwriter Heaven 17 (Martin Ware and Ian Marsh).
There are no specific historical figures or events associated with the name Heaven beyond its religious connotations. However, some people might associate it with popular culture references such as the television series "Touched by an Angel" or the song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle.
In terms of its popularity, according to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Heaven ranked #893 in 2020 for girls' names and was not listed among the top 1000 boys' names. This suggests that while it is still used today, it is not as common as some other names.
Overall, Heaven is a name with a clear meaning and origin, but one that has been largely embraced by parents seeking something different for their children rather than having strong historical or cultural ties. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, but it remains a beautiful and meaningful choice for those who wish to bestow upon their child a name that literally means "heaven."
The name Heaven has seen a significant increase in popularity over time, with a total of 29,128 births recorded from 1971 to 2023. While the first decade saw relatively few births (totaling just over 1,400), there was a marked rise starting in the late 1980s and peaking in the mid-1990s with over 500 births per year. The name's popularity continued to grow throughout the 2000s, reaching its zenith between 2006 and 2008 with over 1,300 births annually. However, since then there has been a steady decline in popularity, with under 700 births recorded each year from 2019 onwards.