Legolas is a name of Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse elements "leg" meaning "limb or leg" and "háls" meaning "neck". However, it gained widespread popularity due to its use in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic high-fantasy novel, "The Lord of the Rings," published in 1954-1955.
In Tolkien's legendarium, Legolas is a Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil. He joins the Fellowship of the Ring on their quest to destroy the One Ring and is renowned for his exceptional archery skills and agility. Tolkien created the name Legolas as an original Sindarin name, which he translated into English as "Greenleaf."
Before its appearance in Tolkien's works, Legolas was not a commonly used name. However, after the publication of "The Lord of the Rings" and later the release of Peter Jackson's film adaptations (2001-2003), it gained significant popularity worldwide.
In recent years, Legolas has been consistently ranked among the top 1000 boys' names in several English-speaking countries. Despite its Norse origins, Legolas is often associated with fantasy literature and popular culture due to Tolkien's influential works. Today, many parents choose this name for their children, inspired by its unique sound and connection to the magical world of Middle-earth.
The name Legolas has seen a fluctuating trend of popularity over the years in the United States. In 2003, it reached its peak with 7 births recorded that year. However, this figure declined in subsequent years, with only 6 births registered in 2015 and 5 births in 2018.
Despite these fluctuations, Legolas remains a unique name choice for parents seeking something distinctive for their child. Over the period from 2003 to 2018, there have been a total of 18 babies born with this name across the United States. This statistic suggests that while it may not be among the most popular choices, Legolas has continued to appeal to some parents who wish to give their child an uncommon and memorable name.