Natalija is a feminine given name of Slavic origin. It is derived from the Latin word "natalis", which means "birthday". In Roman Catholic tradition, the day of Jesus Christ's birth, Christmas Day, was known as Dies Natalis, or "the birthday of the Lord".
The name Natalija has been associated with Christmas and the winter season in many Slavic cultures. It is often given to girls born around this time of year, especially on Christmas Day itself. However, it is not exclusively a Christmas-themed name, and can be given to girls regardless of their birthdate.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Natalija. One example is Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, whose baptismal name was Natalija Alexejevna Romanova. She was the wife of Alexander II and the mother of Alexander III.
In popular culture, the name Natalija has appeared in various forms of media. For instance, it is the name of a character in the video game series The Witcher, played by actress Aglaé Mossuyt.
The name Natalija has been given to a total of 230 babies born in the United States between 1991 and 2023, according to the data provided. The number of births with this name varied year by year.
In 1991, there were 6 babies named Natalija, followed by 8 births in 1996 and 9 in 1998. The peak years for this name were 2009 with 15 births and 2014 with 14 births. Interestingly, the number of births with this name has been steadily increasing since 2019, with 11 babies named Natalija born in both that year and in 2022.
Despite some fluctuation over the years, it's clear that Natalija remains a unique and distinctive name choice for parents in the United States.