Pamela is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word "pamellus," which means "small pastry or bread roll." The name was first used in English literature during the late 16th century and gained popularity throughout Europe during the following centuries.
The name Pamela has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous is Pamela Anderson, a Canadian-American actress and model who rose to prominence during the 1990s as a result of her role in the television series "Baywatch." Additionally, Pamela Reed is an American actress known for her roles in films such as "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Jerry Maguire."
In literature, the name Pamela is also prominent. Samuel Richardson's novel "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," published in 1740, features a protagonist named Pamela. The novel follows Pamela's struggle to maintain her virtue while serving as a maid in the household of Mr. B., who attempts to seduce her.
Overall, Pamela is a unique and historical name with a Latin origin that has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Despite its relatively uncommon usage today, the name Pamela remains an elegant and distinctive choice for parents seeking a memorable moniker for their daughter.
The name Pamela has a rich and varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century, as evidenced by these statistics from 1895 to 2023.
In the early years, Pamela was not particularly popular, with only a handful of births each year between 1895 and 1914. However, starting in 1915, we see a significant increase in the number of Pamelas being born, with 22 births that year. This trend continues through the end of World War II, with Pamela reaching its peak popularity during this time.
From 1940 to 1953, there were over 100 births each year for the name Pamela, with some years even surpassing 25,000 births. This represents a significant jump from previous decades and indicates that Pamela was widely accepted as a popular girl's name during this period.
However, after 1953, we see a decline in the number of Pamelas being born each year. By the late 1960s, the number had fallen below 15,000 births per year, and it continued to decline throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Since then, Pamela has remained relatively uncommon as a baby name in the United States. While there were still some years with over 200 births for the name (such as 1979 and 1980), the numbers have generally continued to decline over time. In recent years, fewer than 150 Pamelas are born each year.
Overall, these statistics show that Pamela was a popular girl's name in the United States during the mid-20th century but has since fallen out of favor. Despite this, there is still some level of continuity with the name, as it continues to be given to a small number of babies each year. It will be interesting to see if the trend reverses in the future and Pamela regains popularity among parents looking for unique names for their daughters.