Agatha Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Agatha is a name of Greek origin, meaning 'good' or 'noble'. It evolved through various languages, including Latin and Old French. The name is strongly associated with the Christian martyr Saint Agatha, which contributed to its popularity in medieval times. It is perceived as a classic name with strong moral connotations and has notable variants. The name is currently associated with literary excellence due to Agatha Christie.
The name Agatha is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. 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, Agatha has been stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, too 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, 'Agatha' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 484th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 790th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1491st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2803rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3512th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3928th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2018th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Agatha' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Agatha"
Pronunciation
/ˈæɡəθə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Agatha is derived from the Greek word 'agathos', meaning 'good' or 'noble'. It was often used in early Christian communities as a way to signify virtue and moral integrity.
Meaning
good, noble
Language Evolution
Agathe (Old French), Agatha (Latin), Agathe (French), Agata (Italian, Spanish)
Historical Usage
The name Agatha became popular in the Christian world due to Saint Agatha, a 3rd-century martyr whose feast day is celebrated on February 5th. Her story contributed to the name's enduring popularity, particularly in medieval Europe.
Variants & Derivatives
Agathe, Agata, Aggie, Gatha
Modern Popularity & Image
Agatha is viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name. It carries connotations of strength and virtue, often associated with literary and historical figures.
Famous People
Agatha Christie, the famous British detective novelist, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, a Spanish fashion designer
Explore More Agatha Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Agatha"
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 "Agatha"
"Agatha" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 484th of 9107 | 3,580 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 790th of 9204 | 1,518 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1491st of 12526 | 921 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2803rd of 19264 | 415 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3512th of 27321 | 454 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3928th of 35406 | 573 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2018th of 30306 | 1,163 |
Regional Popularity of "Agatha" 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 "Agatha" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
27.97% 396th/1416 |
25.16% 347th/1379 |
30.01% 710th/2366 |
94.57% 1080th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
54.72% 846th/1546 |
32.13% 500th/1556 |
59.92% 1410th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
95.69% 2131st/2227 |
45.80% 1113th/2430 |
59.41% 1695th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
51.85% 1806th/3483 |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
47.73% 2136th/4475 |
80.90% 4202nd/5194 |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
88.26% 4044th/4582 |
53.87% 2782nd/5164 |
64.93% 4748th/7313 |
60.27% 4498th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
62.40% 2486th/3984 |
32.09% 1440th/4487 |
30.94% 2111th/6822 |
35.47% 2226th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Agatha"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Agatha" 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.