Holding steady.
Popularity of Easter since 1880
Babies named Easter per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Easter's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 154 |
| 1890s | 295 |
| 1900s | 412 |
| 1910s | 901 |
| 1920s | 1,141 |
| 1930s | 820 |
| 1940s | 618 |
| 1950s | 522 |
| 1960s | 286 |
| 1970s | 152 |
| 1980s | 106 |
| 1990s | 61 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Easter is a name with deep historical roots, originally derived from the Old English Ēastre, a Germanic goddess of spring and dawn. The name was first recorded in the United States in 1880, and it reached its peak popularity in 1883. However, it has never been a common name and has remained rare ever since. The 1880s saw the highest usage, with the name appearing almost exclusively for girls. Today, Easter is seldom used as a given name, likely due to its strong association with the Christian holiday. Its trajectory has been stable in its rarity, and it has not seen a revival in recent decades.
Easter is derived from the Old English Ēastre, the name of a pre-Christian Germanic goddess associated with spring and dawn. The month of April was known as Ēasturmōnaþ in her honor. The name was later applied to the Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, and as a given name it was used in the 19th century, especially in the United States. Its popularity peaked in the 1880s but has since declined, remaining rare today.
Where Easter is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Easter
Names that share Easter's style, for a brother or sister.
