Cinderella is a name of English origin that has gained popularity as the title character in various fairy tales and Disney adaptations. The name itself does not have a specific meaning or etymology, but rather it was coined for use in the original Cinderella story.
The tale of Cinderella first appeared in print in 1697 in France, written by Charles Perrault as "Cendrillon." The story follows a young woman named Ella who is forced to work as a servant in her own home after her father's remarriage. Despite the cruelty she faces from her stepfamily, Ella remains kind and virtuous, earning her the nickname Cinderella due to herashes covered in cinders from working by the fireplace.
The name Cinderella was created for this character specifically, with "Cinder" referring to the ashes and soot that covered her clothes while working, and "Ella" serving as a shortened form of her given name Ella. The name has since become synonymous with the story itself, and has been used in numerous adaptations across different cultures throughout history.
Today, Cinderella remains a popular name choice for parents seeking something unique and memorable for their daughters. While it may not have a specific meaning or etymology like many other names, its association with the beloved fairy tale character makes it instantly recognizable and appealing to many.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Cinderella in the United States from 1894 to 2023, we can observe several trends and patterns.
Firstly, it's clear that the popularity of the name has fluctuated significantly over time. The highest number of births was recorded in 1921 with 23 newborn girls named Cinderella, while some years saw only a single digit number of births, such as 5 or 6.
The most popular decades for the name were the 1920s and the early-to-mid-1940s. During these periods, there were consistently higher numbers of babies named Cinderella each year compared to other decades.
Interestingly, after a period of relative obscurity in the late 20th century (with fewer than 10 births per year from 1976 onwards), the name started gaining popularity again in the early 21st century. From 1999 onwards, there have been at least 5 births each year, with peaks in 2018 and 2023 (12 and 8 births respectively).
Overall, since 1894, a total of 902 newborn girls have been named Cinderella in the United States. This data reflects the enduring appeal of this name throughout history, despite its fluctuations in popularity.