Dominique is a masculine given name of French and Italian origin. It means "of the Lord" or "belonging to the Lord." The name is derived from the Latin word 'dominus,' which means "lord."
The name Dominique was first used by Saint Dominique de Guzman, also known as Dominic, who founded the Dominican Order in the 13th century. He was canonized as a saint by Pope Honorius III in 1234. The name has since been popular among Catholics and has been widely used throughout Europe.
In France, Dominique has been a popular given name for centuries. It was one of the most common names given to boys born in the country during the 20th century. The name has also gained popularity in other French-speaking countries such as Belgium, Canada, and Switzerland.
In Italy, Dominique is known by its Italian form, Domenico. Like Dominique, it means "of the Lord" or "belonging to the Lord." It was popularized by Saint Domenico di Fossato, another member of the Dominican Order who was born in Italy during the 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have been named Dominique or Domenico. Some examples include:
* Dominique-Wilfrid Bougaud (1827-1905), a French Catholic priest and writer
* Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801), an Italian composer of the Classical era
* Dominique Strauss-Kahn (born 1949), a French politician and economist who served as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund from 2007 to 2011
In popular culture, Dominique is the name of a character in Jean Genet's play "The Maids" and has been used in various songs, films, and television shows. Overall, Dominique is a name with a rich history and meaningful signification that has been widely used throughout Europe for centuries.
Statistics on the Given Name Dominique in the United States:
The name Dominique has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1988 and 1996, there were a total of 71 babies born with this unique name.
Here's a breakdown by year:
- In 1988, only 5 babies were named Dominique.
- The popularity peaked in 1990 when 18 babies were given the name Dominique.
- Following the peak, the number of newborns named Dominique decreased to 8 in 1991.
- The years 1992 and 1993 saw a consistent rate with 11 births each year.
- After 1993, the popularity began to decline. In 1994, there were only 6 babies named Dominique.
- This downward trend continued in 1995 with 5 births.
- However, it slightly increased again in 1996 with 7 babies named Dominique.
These statistics demonstrate a fluctuation in the popularity of the name Dominique over these nine years. Despite the changes in popularity, it's clear that this distinctive name has maintained a consistent presence among newborns in the United States during this period.