Jacqueline is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the male name Jacque, which is a diminutive of Jacques, itself coming from the Latin name Iacobus, meaning "supplanter" or "follower". Therefore, Jacqueline means "may God protect".
The name Jacqueline has been popular throughout history and in various countries. In France, it was particularly common during the 20th century. It was also quite popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, reaching its peak popularity in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Some notable people named Jacqueline include Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady of the United States; Jacqueline du Pré, a renowned British cellist; and Jacqueline Suskin, an American poet and author. Despite its historical popularity, Jacqueline remains less common today compared to many other names, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a unique name for their daughter with a rich heritage and meaning behind it.
Statistics on the Name Jacqueline in the United States:
The name Jacqueline has a rich history and has been popular among parents for over a century. The earliest recorded birth of a girl named Jacqueline in the United States was in 1891, with only 7 births that year.
For the next few decades, the popularity of the name Jacqueline remained relatively low, with fewer than 20 births per year between 1893 and 1907. However, the early 1900s marked a turning point for this elegant name, as its popularity began to grow steadily.
Between 1908 and 1919, the number of Jacqueline births increased significantly, reaching a peak of 540 in 1920. This trend continued throughout the Roaring Twenties, with over 2,000 Jacquelines born each year from 1923 to 1929.
The popularity of the name Jacqueline reached its zenith during the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1964, a record-breaking 11,976 girls were named Jacqueline, making it one of the most popular names for baby girls that year. This remarkable figure was maintained or exceeded until 1969, when the number of Jacquelines born began to decline gradually.
Despite this decrease in popularity, the name Jacqueline remained a popular choice for parents throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Between 1980 and 2023, an average of around 500 girls were named Jacqueline each year in the United States.
In total, from 1891 to 2023, over 425,000 baby girls have been named Jacqueline in the United States. This impressive number underscores the enduring appeal and timeless elegance of this classic French-inspired name.