Ansel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ansel is a Germanic name meaning 'divine protection', stemming from the elements 'ans' and 'helm'. It evolved from historical forms such as Anshelm and Anselm, reflecting its cultural significance. The name has no biblical background and gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly due to Saint Anselm. Today, it is viewed as a unique and creative name, with notable figures like Ansel Adams and Ansel Elgort contributing to its modern image.
The name Ansel is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West 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, Ansel has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ansel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1077th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1402nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2022nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2483rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2810th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2355th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1278th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ansel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ansel"
Pronunciation
/ˈæn.səl/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Ansel is derived from the Germanic elements 'ans', meaning 'god', and 'helm', meaning 'helmet' or 'protection'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'divine protection'.
Meaning
divine protection
Language Evolution
Anshelm, Anselm, Ansel
Historical Usage
The name Ansel gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions influenced by Germanic culture. It became more widely recognized due to the prominence of Saint Anselm, an Italian Benedictine monk and philosopher.
Variants & Derivatives
Anselm, Anselmo, Anselma
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Ansel is perceived as a traditional yet unique name, often associated with creativity and strength. It has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
Famous People
Ansel Adams, renowned American photographer, Ansel Elgort, American actor and musician
Explore More Ansel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ansel"
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 "Ansel"
"Ansel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1077th of 7545 | 668 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1402nd of 6773 | 431 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2022nd of 7552 | 299 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2483rd of 10718 | 245 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2810th of 16616 | 341 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2355th of 24088 | 780 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1278th of 23106 | 1,769 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Ansel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
68.86% 975th/1416 |
- |
44.17% 1045th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
45.98% 1082nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
60.57% 1728th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
57.82% 2034th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
59.30% 3080th/5194 |
39.51% 2496th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
44.13% 2279th/5164 |
46.07% 3369th/7313 |
20.21% 1508th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
36.90% 1470th/3984 |
31.22% 1401st/4487 |
25.78% 1759th/6822 |
14.10% 885th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ansel" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ansel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ansel" 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.