Uriah is a unique and uncommon male given name of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my light" in Hebrew, which signifies the idea that God provides illumination and guidance throughout one's life.
The name Uriah first appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel. Uriah the Hittite was a soldier in King David's army who was married to Bathsheba, the woman with whom King David committed adultery. This story is often associated with the name Uriah, but it's important to note that this character is not typically connected with the positive connotations of the name itself.
In recent times, Uriah has been used as a given name in some English-speaking countries, although it remains quite rare. Some notable people named Uriah include Uriah Heep, a fictional character in Charles Dickens' novel "David Copperfield," and Uriah Hall, a Jamaican mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The name Uriah has seen a varied range of popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the birth statistics from 1987 to 2023. The highest number of births recorded for this name was in 2007 with 41 newborns, while the lowest occurred in 1987 and 1989 with only 6 births each year.
From 1992 onwards, there has been a consistent increase in the number of babies named Uriah, reaching a peak in 2007. Since then, the popularity has fluctuated but has remained relatively stable, with an average of around 25-30 births per year from 2008 to 2023.
In total, from 1987 to 2023, there have been 861 births registered for the name Uriah in the United States. This data demonstrates that while Uriah may not be one of the most popular names, it has maintained a steady presence among American newborns over several decades.
It's interesting to note that the name Uriah appears to have two periods of increased popularity: one from 1987 to 1992 and another from 2000 to 2009. After these periods, the number of births has leveled off, indicating a consistent but not overwhelming preference for this particular name.
Overall, these statistics show that while Uriah may not be a ubiquitous name in the United States, it has been a constant presence among newborns since at least 1987. Parents continue to choose this name for their children, contributing to a total of over eight hundred births recorded under this name throughout these years.