Cinderella

Meaning & origin

Cinderella is a name that carries an immediate storybook association, yet its real-world use has remained negligible. First recorded in U.S. data in 1894, it peaked that same year but has never entered the top 1000 names, reflecting its status as a literary reference rather than a common given name. In the past decade, however, the name has shown a slight upward trajectory since 2015, possibly influenced by modern adaptations of the fairy tale. Despite this recent uptick, the 1-in-N ratio remains undefined because the name is too rare to calculate meaningfully. Cinderella's revival in the 1890s decade marks the only period of notable usage, and it has no top states where it appears with any frequency. The name's enduring visibility comes from the classic story, not from any statistical presence.

Cinderella is a literary name coined by Charles Perrault in his 1697 fairy tale 'Cendrillon,' from the French 'cendrier' (ash heap) and the diminutive suffix '-elle,' meaning 'little ash girl.' The name was later anglicized as Cinderella in English translations. Despite its fairy-tale origins, it has been used as a given name since the 19th century, though it remains rare and strongly tied to the story.