January, derived from the Latin word 'ianuarius', is the first month of the Gregorian calendar. It was named after Janus, the Roman god of doors, gates, beginnings, and endings. This naming reflects January's significance as the start of a new year in Western cultures. The month is typically associated with cold weather and shorter days in many parts of the world, marking the transition from winter to spring.
The name January has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the decades. Initially, it was quite uncommon with only a handful of births each year from 1951 to 1980. However, starting from 1981, there's a notable increase, reaching a peak in 1992 with 20 births. After that, it steadily declines until the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it hovers around single-digit numbers annually. Since then, January has experienced another resurgence, consistently registering double-digit figures since 2008, reaching as high as 36 births in 2013. Despite fluctuations, the name January remains a unique choice with a total of 2149 births over these years.