Imogene is a unique and captivating female given name of Irish origin. It was created by the renowned Irish poet Thomas Moore for his play "Owen O'Malley," first performed in 1814. In the play, Imogene is the beautiful daughter of an impoverished nobleman.
The name Imogene is derived from the Irish name Eimheoin, which means "jealous in a good way." This unique meaning suggests that the name Imogene carries connotations of devoted love and protectiveness.
Despite its Irish roots and enchanting origin story, Imogene has not been widely popular throughout history. However, it has been used sporadically in English-speaking countries since the 19th century. In recent years, there has been a slight increase in the usage of Imogene, possibly due to its vintage charm and intriguing backstory.
Overall, Imogene is an uncommon yet compelling name that embodies Irish heritage and carries a distinctive meaning. Its origins in literature make it particularly appealing for those who appreciate the arts and the timeless beauty of words.
The name Imogene has seen a significant increase and decrease in popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1880 and 1964, there were more than 20 births each year for this name, with peaks occurring between 1903 and 1927, reaching up to 1494 births in 1927.
However, starting from 1965 onwards, the popularity of Imogene began to decline significantly. There were fewer than 20 births each year for this name, with some years even having less than 10 births. This trend continued until the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Despite its decline in popularity, Imogene has experienced a small resurgence since around the mid-2000s. Between 2005 and 2022, there have been between 6 to 72 births each year for this name, indicating that while it is not as popular as it once was, Imogene remains a chosen name for parents in recent years.
Overall, since its peak popularity during the early to mid-1900s, Imogene has seen a significant decrease in popularity but still maintains some level of popularity among parents today. As of 2022, there have been a total of 27758 births with the name Imogene in the United States since 1880.