The name Jourdan is of French origin and means "flowing water" or "Jordan River." It is derived from the Latin word "Jordanis," which was used to refer to people who lived near or crossed the Jordan River. The Jordan River itself is named after the Hebrew word "Yarden," meaning "descending" or "flowing down."
The name Jourdan has a rich history and is associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Jean-Louis Jourdan (1921-2015), a French actor who appeared in numerous films and stage productions. He was known for his roles in films such as "Gervaise" (1956) and "The Elusive Corporal" (1962).
Another notable figure with the name Jourdan is François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire (1694-1778). Although he was born with the surname Arouet, he adopted the name Voltaire as a pseudonym. The name Voltaire comes from the French word "voltaire," meaning "to fly" or "to volt." It is unclear whether Voltaire deliberately chose this name to reflect his desire for freedom and independence, but it has been suggested that he may have chosen it because of its similarity to his birth name.
In literature, the name Jourdan appears in several works by French authors. For example, it is the surname of one of the main characters in Gustave Flaubert's novel "Madame Bovary" (1856). The character Charles Jourdain is a lawyer who becomes involved with Emma Bovary, the protagonist of the novel.
Overall, the name Jourdan has a long and fascinating history that spans centuries and continents. Whether it be through its association with notable figures such as Jean-Louis Jourdan and Voltaire, or its appearance in classic works of literature like "Madame Bovary," this unique name continues to captivate people around the world.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Jourdan has had varying popularity over the years in the United States.
From 1980 to 1997, there was a steady increase in the number of babies named Jourdan. The peak year for this name during this period was 1997 with 126 births. This trend continued into the late 90s and early 2000s, with the highest number of babies named Jourdan recorded in 2002 with 82 births.
However, after 2002, we see a significant decrease in the popularity of this name. The number of births for girls named Jourdan dropped to an all-time low of 5 births in 2022. Even though there was a slight increase in 2023 with 7 births, it is still much lower than its peak years.
In total, there have been 2317 babies named Jourdan in the United States since 1980. It's fascinating to observe how trends and preferences change over time in terms of baby names.