Infant Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'infant' has Latin origins, meaning 'unable to speak'. It evolved through Old French and Middle English to its current form. It denotes a very young child and has no biblical relevance. Throughout history, it became prevalent in various social and legal contexts.
The name Infant is most popular in Texas, 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, Infant has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Infant' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 780th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1476th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7240th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1130th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2135th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9753rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Infant' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Infant"
Pronunciation
/ˈɪnfənt/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The word 'infant' originates from the Latin term 'infans', which means 'unable to speak' or 'speechless'. It is derived from 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'fans', the present participle of 'fari', meaning 'to speak'.
Meaning
a very young child or baby
Language Evolution
Latin: infans, Old French: enfant, Middle English: infant
Historical Usage
The term 'infant' gained popularity in English during the Middle Ages, where it was commonly used to refer to very young children, particularly in legal and social contexts.
Variants & Derivatives
Infante, Infanta, Infantile, Infancy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the term 'infant' is widely used in medical, legal, and parental contexts to refer to children from birth to one year old. It carries a neutral connotation.
Explore More Infant Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Infant"
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 "Infant"
"Infant" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 780th of 16616 | 2,543 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1476th of 24088 | 1,532 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7240th of 23106 | 131 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1130th of 27321 | 2,374 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2135th of 35406 | 1,393 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9753rd of 30306 | 123 |
Regional Popularity of "Infant" 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) |
21.93% 808th/3685 |
62.19% 2783rd/4475 |
9.15% 475th/5194 |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
30.55% 1400th/4582 |
- |
10.75% 786th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
36.66% 2501st/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Infant" by Generation for Female 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) |
31.89% 1175th/3685 |
77.01% 3446th/4475 |
10.32% 536th/5194 |
93.73% 5921st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
39.09% 1791st/4582 |
- |
13.58% 993rd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
42.89% 2926th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Infant"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Infant" 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.