Agnes is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the word "agnus," which means "lamb." The name Agnes has been used since ancient times and was particularly popular during the Middle Ages in Europe.
The name Agnes gained prominence due to several early Christian saints who bore the name, including Saint Agnes of Rome. She is considered one of the most honored virgin martyrs of the Catholic Church and is celebrated on January 21st each year. Her legend states that she refused to marry a Roman suitor and was sentenced to death at the age of just twelve or thirteen years old.
Throughout history, Agnes has been associated with innocence, purity, and holiness due to these saintly connections. In the Middle Ages, Agnes became one of the most common female names in Europe, often bestowed upon newborn daughters in the hope that they too would embody the virtues of their saintly namesakes.
Today, Agnes remains a unique and somewhat uncommon name, but it continues to be used around the world as parents appreciate its historic significance and beautiful meaning. It is also sometimes shortened to Aggie or used alongside other names such as Agnes Marie or Agnes Kathleen.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Agnes in the United States from 1887 to 1949. During this period, there were a total of 465 babies named Agnes.
Interestingly, the popularity of the name Agnes fluctuated significantly over these years. The highest peak occurred in 1921 when there were 19 births, followed by another peak in 1926 with 19 births as well. However, the number of births dropped significantly afterwards, reaching its lowest point in 1949 with only 6 births.
The decade from 1905 to 1914 saw a consistent increase in the popularity of the name Agnes, with the highest number of births occurring in 1914 (14 births). However, this trend was not sustained into the following decades. From 1920 onwards, there seems to be no clear pattern or steady decline in the number of babies named Agnes.
Overall, while the name Agnes was somewhat popular during certain periods in U.S. history, it never reached a level of extreme popularity as indicated by the total number of births over this period (465).