Author Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'author' has its roots in Latin, meaning 'creator' or 'originator'. It evolved through various languages before becoming the modern English term we use today. The term denotes a person who creates written works and is associated with creativity and intellectual pursuits. There is no biblical relevance to the term.
The name Author is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation 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. From 2020-2022, Author has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Author' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1102nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1005th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1512th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3939th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8179th out of 16616 names. Discover how the name 'Author' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Author"
Pronunciation
/ˈɔːθər/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The word 'author' comes from the Latin 'auctor', which means 'creator' or 'originator'. The term has evolved in English to refer specifically to someone who creates written works.
Meaning
creator, originator
Language Evolution
Latin: auctor, Old French: autor, Middle English: auctour, Modern English: author
Historical Usage
The term 'author' began to gain popularity in the late Middle Ages and became more widely used during the Renaissance as literature and written works flourished.
Variants & Derivatives
authoress, authorship, co-author
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the term 'author' is used broadly to describe anyone who writes, and it carries a sense of creativity and intellectualism.
Famous People
William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, J.K. Rowling
Explore More Author Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Author"
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 "Author"
"Author" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1102nd of 7545 | 640 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1005th of 6773 | 766 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1512th of 7552 | 507 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3939th of 10718 | 110 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8179th of 16616 | 55 |
Regional Popularity of "Author" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
32.76% 775th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
30.13% 709th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
38.87% 1109th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
61.74% 2172nd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Author" 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 "Author"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Author" 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.