Willodean is a unique and uncommon feminine given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname 'O'Ludhaidh', which is believed to have been derived from the Old Irish word 'lúthach', meaning 'speckled or freckled'. The name O'Ludhaidh was originally associated with a sept, or clan, of Irish nobility who were known for their red hair and fair complexions.
The name Willodean is thought to have originated in County Cork, Ireland, where the O'Ludhaidh clan had significant holdings. Over time, the name became anglicized to Ludlow, and eventually evolved into the feminine given name Willodean.
Despite its Irish origins, Willodean is not a well-known or widely used name in Ireland today. Instead, it has gained popularity as a unique and distinctive feminine name in other English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States.
One notable figure with the name Willodean is American author Willodean "Willie" Morris (1934-1999), who was known for his works of non-fiction about the American South. Morris was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and went on to become a prominent writer and professor at Yale University.
In summary, Willodean is an uncommon feminine given name of Irish origin that means 'speckled or freckled'. While it is not widely used today, it has gained some popularity as a unique and distinctive name in English-speaking countries outside of Ireland. Its most notable bearer to date may be American author Willie Morris.
The name Willodean has seen a varied trend in its popularity over the years in the United States, as evidenced by these statistics. Between 1914 and 1924, there was an increase in the number of births with this name, reaching a peak of 53 births in 1924.
However, from 1925 onwards, the popularity of Willodean began to decline. There were still a significant number of births registered as Willodean each year until the mid-1930s, but the numbers started to drop significantly after that period.
By the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were only a handful of babies named Willodean each year. The total number of births with this name over this period was 1237 in the United States alone.
This data shows how fashion and trends in naming can change over time, with some names becoming popular for a short period before falling out of favor again. It is also interesting to note that even when Willodean was not very popular, there were still some babies given this name each year.