Seth is an ancient name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'appointed' or 'compensation'. It was borne by several figures in the Old Testament, notably Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve in the Bible. In modern times, Seth has been used as a given name for both boys and girls, although it remains more common for males. Notable bearers include American actor Seth Rogen and British author Joseph Conrad, whose real name was Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, but he is better known by his pen name, Joseph Conrad.
The name Seth experienced a notable surge in popularity between the late 1970s and early 1980s, with over 30 births per year consistently from 1977 to 1986, peaking at 33 births in 1981. However, it seems this trend began to decline from the mid-1980s onwards, fluctuating between 5 and 20 births annually until the late 1990s. Since then, Seth has maintained a steady presence, with around 5 to 13 births per year, indicating it remains a popular but not overly common choice for parents.