Paris is a unisex given name of French origin. It is derived from the city's name, which means "to work" or "to prepare". The name Paris has been popular throughout history, with notable figures such as Paris, the son of Priam in Greek mythology, and Saint Paris, a seventh-century bishop who gave his name to the French capital.
The name Paris gained significant popularity during the Middle Ages in Europe. It was often given to boys born around the time of the Fourth Crusade (1204), which saw the conquest of Constantinople by Western European crusaders. During this period, many Europeans became fascinated with the East and named their children after Eastern cities and places, including Paris.
In literature, the name Paris has been immortalized in works such as William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where it is the given name of Juliet's nurse. Additionally, the French novelist Honoré de Balzac used the name for a character in his novel "Père Goriot."
Today, the name Paris continues to be popular among parents seeking unique and memorable names for their children. While it has traditionally been considered more masculine due to its historic usage, in recent years there has been an increase in its use as a female name. Ultimately, the name Paris is associated with elegance, culture, and sophistication, reflecting the city's reputation as a hub of art, fashion, and gastronomy.
Here is a statistical overview of the name Paris over time in the United States:
From the late 19th to early 20th century, there was a steady but low number of births with the name Paris, ranging from just a few to around 30 annually. The years 1912 and 1913 saw a significant increase with 22 births each year.
In the mid-20th century, the popularity of the name Paris started to grow more consistently. There were over 40 births per year from 1956 onwards, peaking at 76 in 1970. The popularity continued to rise steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, reaching over 200 births annually by the late 1980s.
The name Paris reached its peak popularity in the early 1990s, with over 296 births recorded in 1991. After this peak, there was a gradual decline in popularity, but it remained consistently above 100 births per year until the mid-2000s.
Since then, the number of babies named Paris has continued to fluctuate but remains relatively stable, with around 60 to 107 births annually. As of 2022, there have been a total of 9148 births with the name Paris in the United States since 1881.