Smiley is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. Its meaning and history are quite intriguing.
The name Smiley is derived from the occupational surname Smale, which was originally an English nickname given to someone who was cheerful or smiled often. The name Smale is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset in England, where it was first recorded in the late 16th century.
Over time, the spelling of the name evolved from Smale to Smiley, likely due to associations with the term "smile" and its positive connotations. The name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, particularly among African American families. Today, Smiley is considered a unisex given name, although it is still more commonly used for boys.
Despite its origins as an occupational surname, Smiley has no specific meaning or association with any particular profession. Instead, its meaning is largely derived from its sound and the positive connotations of a smile. Therefore, Smiley can be interpreted as a name that signifies happiness, warmth, and approachability.
In terms of history, there are no famous historical figures named Smiley. However, the name has been used in popular culture, most notably in the character Smokey Smiley from the television series "The Wire." Additionally, the name gained some notoriety in 2015 when it was revealed that a man named Smiley Peltier had set the record for the longest time spent in solitary confinement in the United States.
Overall, Smiley is a unique and distinctive given name with a rich history and positive connotations. Its meaning may vary depending on cultural and personal interpretations, but it generally signifies happiness, warmth, and approachability. Despite its origins as an occupational surname, Smiley has evolved into a unisex given name that is often chosen for its sound and positive associations.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Smiley in the United States from 1900 to 1971, we can observe a few trends and patterns.
Firstly, the number of births with the name Smiley has varied over time. The highest number of births occurred in 1926 with 13 babies named Smiley. This could indicate that there was a particular popularity or fashion for this name during this period.
However, it's important to note that overall, the name Smiley was not extremely common during these years. The total number of births with this name from 1900 to 1971 was 357, which is relatively low compared to other names during this time frame.
The popularity of the name Smiley also seemed to fluctuate throughout the decades. In the early 1900s and up until the 1920s, there were periods where more than five babies were named Smiley each year. However, from the 1930s onwards, the number of births with this name fell below ten every year except for a few exceptions.
Overall, while the name Smiley did experience some periods of popularity in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, it was not one of the most common names chosen by parents during this time.