The name Elder is of English origin and it means "elder" or "older person". It was traditionally used as a title for a senior member of the church or a community leader. In recent years, however, Elder has been increasingly used as a given name for boys. The name has gained popularity in part due to its unique sound and partly because of famous bearers such as Elder Anderson, a prominent figure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite its modern usage, Elder remains a timeless name with a rich history dating back centuries.
The name Elder has seen a notable evolution in its popularity over the years in the United States. Initially, it was quite rare, with only 8 births recorded in 1880 and 7 births in 1881. However, by 1914, there were 25 births, indicating that the name was starting to gain traction.
The period between 1914 and 1929 saw a significant increase in the number of babies named Elder, with the highest number being recorded in 1926 with 29 births. This trend continued into the early 1930s, but after that, there was a noticeable decline.
The 1940s and 1950s saw a steady decrease in the popularity of the name Elder, with the lowest point being reached in 1967 with only 5 births. However, it started to pick up again in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The latter half of the 20th century saw a slow but steady increase in the number of babies named Elder. In 1986, there were 15 births, and this number continued to grow over the next decade. The 1990s marked a significant turning point for the name Elder, with the highest number of births recorded in the United States being 46 in 2002.
The early 21st century has seen fluctuations in the popularity of the name Elder. While there were 50 births recorded in 2019 and 48 births in 2023, it's clear that the name is still gaining traction among parents in the United States today. In total, since records began, there have been 2163 babies named Elder born in the United States.
It's fascinating to observe how trends in baby names can change over time, and the statistics for the name Elder provide an interesting example of this phenomenon. Despite its fluctuations in popularity, it's clear that Elder remains a unique and distinctive name choice for parents in the United States.