Schuyler is a unique and distinctive given name of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch surname "van Schuyler," which originally referred to someone who lived near a fence or enclosure, as the word "schuyl" means "fence" in Dutch.
The name Schuyler has been used as a first name since the early 19th century, but it gained significant popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Philip Schuyler, a statesman and a Major General during the American Revolutionary War.
Schuyler is also associated with the prominent American family known as the "Schuylers," who played significant roles in politics, law, and society throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some notable members of this family include:
* Philip Schuyler (1733-1804), a U.S. Senator from New York
* Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854), the wife of Alexander Hamilton, who was also a renowned American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
* Angelica Schuyler Church (1756-1814), the sister of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, who married John Barker Church, a U.S. Congressman from New York
In popular culture, the name Schuyler has been featured in various movies and television shows, including "The Age of Innocence" by Martin Scorsese and the TV series "The Mentalist." Additionally, the musical "Hamilton," created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has brought significant attention to this unique name.
Overall, Schuyler is a distinctive and historic given name with Dutch origins that has been used as a first name for centuries. Its association with prominent American families and its appearance in popular culture have contributed to its enduring popularity.
The name Schuyler has had a fluctuating popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 1292 births recorded since 1948.
From 1948 to 1968, there were only six births each year for this name. However, starting from 1975, we began to see an increase in its popularity, with 12 births recorded that year. This trend continued into the early 1980s, peaking at 20 births in both 1984 and 1985.
The late 1980s saw a further rise in popularity, culminating in 60 births in 1998. The years between 1999 and 2004 saw a relatively stable number of births each year, ranging from a low of 34 in 2001 to a high of 54 in 2000.
However, since then, the popularity of the name Schuyler has gradually declined. From 2005 onwards, there have been less than 30 births each year, with the most recent data showing only 6 births in 2022 and 9 births in 2023.
Despite this decline in recent years, it is clear that Schuyler has had periods of significant popularity throughout history. It will be interesting to see whether this trend continues or if there is another resurgence in the future.