Jacilyn is a unique and uncommon name of American origin. It is not widely recognized as it was created by author Ann M. Martin for one of the main characters in her popular children's book series, The Baby-Sitters Club.
The exact meaning behind Jacilyn is unclear as it was invented for fictional purposes. However, it is believed to be a combination of the names Jacqueline and Jillian. Jacqueline is derived from the French name Jaqueline, which means "god please". Jillian is also of American origin and means "supplanter".
Despite its uncertain origins and meaning, Jacilyn has gained some recognition since its introduction in The Baby-Sitters Club series. It may not have a long history or widespread usage, but for many fans of the series, Jacilyn holds special significance as it brings back memories of their favorite childhood books.
The name Jacilyn has seen a varied pattern of usage in the United States over the past five decades, with peaks and valleys in its popularity.
In the mid-1970s, Jacilyn was given to around 5 newborn girls each year. However, by 1977, this number had doubled to 10 births, indicating a sudden increase in its usage. This trend continued through the late 1970s and early 1980s, with peaks of 22 births in 1984 and 17 births in both 1985 and 1986.
Interestingly, Jacilyn's popularity seemed to dip slightly during the mid-1980s, with around 13 to 17 births per year from 1987 to 1989. However, it regained momentum in the early 1990s, with peaks of 14 and 15 births in 1992 and 1995 respectively.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a steady decrease in Jacilyn's usage, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1996 onwards. This trend continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with the most recent data showing only 5 births in 2021.
Overall, while Jacilyn has had periods of relative popularity over the past five decades, its usage has generally been quite low, with a total of 386 newborn girls given this name in the United States during this time.