Wanda is a feminine given name of Polish origin. It comes from the Slavic element "wanda", which means "enchantment" or "charm". The name Wanda has been associated with several historical figures in Poland, most notably Queen Wanda of Poland (also known as Princess Wanda), who was a legendary ruler in the 9th century. She is said to have refused to marry a German prince unless he converted to Christianity and became a protector of her country, which ultimately led to his conversion and the establishment of Christianity in Poland. Despite its historical significance, the name Wanda remains relatively uncommon outside of Poland.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe the trend of the number of babies named Wanda born annually in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
The name Wanda first appeared in the U.S. Social Security Administration's baby name database in 1880 with a total of 11 births that year. The popularity of the name grew slowly over the next few decades, reaching its peak in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1946, there were 5236 births of girls named Wanda, marking the highest point for this name's popularity during the period covered by these statistics. This trend continued into the following years, with a total of 7711 births in 1957 being the second-highest figure recorded.
However, beginning around the mid-1960s, we see a significant decrease in the number of babies named Wanda. By 1980, only 481 girls were named Wanda at birth. This decline continued throughout much of the late 20th century and into the early 21st century.
From 2005 onwards, there have been fewer than 50 births of girls named Wanda each year on average. The most recent data available shows that in 2023, there were only 21 babies named Wanda born in the United States.
In conclusion, while Wanda was once a popular name for baby girls in America, its popularity has since diminished significantly over time. Between 1880 and 2023, a total of 281,168 babies named Wanda were born in the United States.