Grover is a name of English origin that has gained popularity in recent years. It is derived from the medieval personal name Grisel, which was popular among the Normans who invaded England in the 11th century. The name Grisel is believed to have originated from the Germanic words "gris," meaning "gray," and "-hild," meaning "battle." Therefore, Grover means "gray-haired warrior."
The name Grover was originally a surname, but it has since been adopted as a given name for boys. It was first recorded as a given name in the United States in the late 19th century. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that Grover began to gain significant popularity as a boy's name.
One notable figure with the name Grover is former US President Grover Cleveland, who served two non-consecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897. He was born in 1837 and was named after his uncle, who had the surname Grover.
Today, Grover is considered a unique and distinctive name for boys. It has a vintage feel while still sounding modern and approachable. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Grover has been steadily increasing in popularity since the 1980s, with its highest ranking being in 2016 when it reached number 753 on the list of most popular boy's names in the United States.
In summary, Grover is a name of English origin that means "gray-haired warrior." It was originally a surname but has since been adopted as a given name for boys. Although not extremely common, Grover has gained popularity in recent years and is considered a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for a vintage-inspired name with a modern edge.
Grover is a unique and intriguing name that has been given to babies born in the United States over the past century and a half. The statistics provided show an interesting pattern of fluctuation in the popularity of this name.
The earliest record we have goes back to 1880, with 18 births that year. This number doubled the following year, indicating that Grover might have been a popular choice for parents at the time. However, it's important to note that these numbers are quite small compared to the total birth rate in the United States during this period.
The peak of popularity for the name Grover came between 1916 and 1921, with over 600 births each year. The highest number recorded was 690 births in 1921. This period coincides with a time when many families were experiencing prosperity and expansion, which might have influenced parents' choices of names.
After this peak, the popularity of the name Grover began to decline steadily. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, there were fewer than 350 births each year with the name Grover. This trend continued into the latter half of the century, with numbers dropping as low as nine births in 2011.
However, it appears that the name Grover has seen a resurgence in recent years. After falling to its lowest point in the early 2010s, there was an increase in the number of births with this name, reaching 28 births in 2013 and continuing at similar levels through to 2023.
Overall, while Grover may not have been one of the most popular names throughout history, it has maintained a steady presence among baby names in the United States. The fluctuations in its popularity over time provide an interesting insight into the changing trends and tastes in naming babies during different eras.