Lemuel is a unique and intriguing name with an interesting history and origin. It is derived from the Hebrew language, where it translates to "for God he has spoken" or "devoted to God." In the Old Testament of the Bible, Lemuel is mentioned as the father of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
The name Lemuel gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 16th century, likely due to its biblical origins. It was used by several notable figures throughout history, including Lemuel Gulliver, the protagonist of Jonathan Swift's satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels," and Lemuel Haynes, an American minister and veteran of the American Revolutionary War who is believed to have been one of the first African-American graduates from a college in the United States.
Despite its biblical origins, Lemuel has not been particularly popular as a given name. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it has never ranked among the top 1000 names for boys since records began in the late 19th century. However, this may be due in part to its unique sound and unconventional spelling, which can make it feel unfamiliar or difficult to pronounce for some people.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in unique and uncommon names, which may lead to an increase in the popularity of Lemuel in the future. Overall, Lemuel is a name with a rich history and meaningful origin that is worth considering for parents looking for something distinctive and memorable for their child.
The name Lemuel has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century. The earliest record of its usage dates back to 1880 when it was chosen for 59 newborns. This figure decreased slightly the following year with 58 births, but began to fluctuate more significantly from 1882 onwards.
The number of babies named Lemuel reached its peak in 1916 with a total of 135 births. This period marked the beginning of a trend where the name became increasingly popular over time. Between 1914 and 1926, there were consistently more than 100 births each year for this name.
However, starting from 1927, we can observe a steady decline in its popularity. The highest number recorded during this period was 116 births in 1928, while the lowest point occurred in 2004 with only 38 babies being named Lemuel.
Since then, the name has seen some fluctuations but remains relatively uncommon compared to its heyday earlier last century. In recent years (from 2014 onwards), there have been around 60-70 births annually for this name, demonstrating that while it may not be as popular as it once was, Lemuel continues to hold significance among parents choosing names for their children born in the United States.
In total, over the course of more than a century (1880-2023), approximately 9820 babies have been named Lemuel in the United States. This data provides an interesting glimpse into naming trends and preferences throughout history.