Sharon is a popular female given name with Hebrew origins. It means "plain" or "open country" in Hebrew. The name has been used throughout history, but it gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the mid-20th century.
The name Sharon is derived from the biblical Plain of Sharon, which is located on the coastal plain of Israel. This region was known for its fertility and beauty, with many streams flowing through it. In the Bible, the Plain of Sharon is often associated with joy and happiness, as it is described as a place where people would dance and sing.
The use of Sharon as a given name can be traced back to the 19th century, but it was not widely used until the mid-20th century. One possible reason for its increased popularity is that many people were drawn to the biblical connotations of the name and its association with beauty and fertility.
Today, Sharon remains a popular name for girls around the world. It has been used by families from various cultural backgrounds, and it continues to be a beloved choice for parents looking for a meaningful and beautiful name for their daughters. Despite its Hebrew origins, Sharon has become a truly international name that transcends cultural boundaries.
The name Sharon has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century, with a total of 3,105 babies named Sharon born between 1902 and 2022.
The name's popularity peaked in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1943, there were a record-breaking 96 births with the name Sharon, which was also the peak year for the name in terms of popularity. This trend continued into the 1950s, with 78 births in 1952 and 63 births in 1955.
However, by the late 1960s and early 1970s, the popularity of the name Sharon began to decline. There were only 49 births in 1968, dropping further to 36 births in 1969, and continuing to decrease throughout the 1970s.
The trend of decreasing popularity continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with a low point of only 6 births in 2010. Despite this decline, there have still been several years since the turn of the century where more than 10 babies were named Sharon, including 13 births in both 2003 and 2006.
In recent years, the name Sharon has seen a small resurgence in popularity, with 12 births recorded in 2014 and 8 births each in both 2016 and 2022. This shows that while the name may not be as popular as it once was, it is still a recognizable and loved choice for parents.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate the changing trends in baby names over time, with Sharon experiencing periods of popularity followed by declines in usage. Despite this, the name remains an enduring choice for parents across generations.