Charity Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Charity' originates from the Latin term 'caritas', meaning love or benevolence. It evolved through various forms in the English language, reflecting its roots in Christian theology, where it signifies a deep, selfless love. The name carries a positive connotation in modern society, symbolizing kindness and generosity. Its biblical relevance is significant, as charity is considered a virtue in Christianity.
The name Charity is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Charity has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Charity' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7360th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12589th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 794th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1178th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1339th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 345th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 378th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 631st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1341st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Charity' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Charity"
Pronunciation
/ˈtʃærɪti/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name 'Charity' is derived from the Latin word 'caritas', which means 'dear, valued, esteemed,' and is associated with the concept of love and benevolence.
Meaning
love, benevolence
Language Evolution
Caritas (Latin), Charitas (Late Latin), Charity (Middle English)
Biblical Background
In Christian theology, charity is often considered the highest form of love, reflecting the love of God for humanity.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 17th century, largely due to its association with Christian virtues.
Variants & Derivatives
Charitie, Charita, Charitae
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Charity is viewed positively, often associated with kindness and generosity.
Famous People
Charity Wakefield (actress), Charity Johnson (philanthropist)
Explore More Charity Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Charity"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Charity"
"Charity" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 7360th of 10718 | 23 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 12589th of 16616 | 16 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 794th of 9107 | 1,509 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1178th of 9204 | 733 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1339th of 12526 | 1,129 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 345th of 19264 | 11,407 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 378th of 27321 | 10,709 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 631st of 35406 | 7,074 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1341st of 30306 | 2,091 |
Regional Popularity of "Charity" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Charity" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 1416th/1416 |
93.62% 1291st/1379 |
27.77% 657th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
44.75% 1053rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.55% 1237th/2227 |
61.48% 1494th/2430 |
50.68% 1446th/2853 |
70.27% 1950th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
10.08% 296th/2937 |
15.36% 535th/3483 |
8.93% 314th/3518 |
8.38% 339th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.15% 337th/3685 |
15.80% 707th/4475 |
4.99% 259th/5194 |
8.25% 521st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.55% 621st/4582 |
21.63% 1117th/5164 |
6.21% 454th/7313 |
12.10% 903rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
30.80% 1227th/3984 |
43.95% 1972nd/4487 |
17.08% 1165th/6822 |
28.27% 1774th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Charity"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Charity" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.