Blythe Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Blythe is rooted in Old English, meaning 'happy' or 'joyful'. It evolved from 'blīðe' in Old English to 'Blythe' in Middle English and finally to 'Blythe' in Modern English. The name embodies traits of cheerfulness and joy. It has no biblical relevance, but gained popularity in the 19th century. Variants include Blithe and Blyth, and it is currently viewed positively in modern contexts, associated with notable figures like Blythe Danner and Blythe Baird.
The name Blythe is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha 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, Blythe has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled 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, 'Blythe' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5669th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5372nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6135th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10567th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 9147th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9839th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3992nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4026th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2458th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1913th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2000th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2315th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1708th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Blythe' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Blythe"
Pronunciation
/blaɪθ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Blythe derives from the Old English word 'blīðe', which means 'happy' or 'joyful'. It was originally used as a surname before becoming a given name.
Meaning
happy, cheerful, carefree
Language Evolution
Old English: Blīðe, Middle English: Blythe, Modern English: Blythe
Historical Usage
The name Blythe gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in England, as a given name and has been used in various literary works.
Variants & Derivatives
Blithe, Blyth, Blith
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Blythe is perceived as a whimsical and light-hearted name, often associated with positivity and cheerfulness.
Famous People
Blythe Danner, an acclaimed American actress, Blythe Baird, a contemporary poet and performer
📊 Blythe Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Blythe Name Visualizations
✨ Blythe Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 181 peak births in 2013
Geographic Spread
Popular across 26 US states, with strongest presence in South Carolina
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Blythe"
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 "Blythe"
"Blythe" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 5669th of 7545 | 20 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 5372nd of 6773 | 17 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6135th of 7552 | 15 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10567th of 16616 | 28 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 9147th of 24088 | 101 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9839th of 23106 | 77 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3992nd of 9107 | 93 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4026th of 9204 | 92 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2458th of 12526 | 398 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1913th of 19264 | 744 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2000th of 27321 | 998 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2315th of 35406 | 1,230 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1708th of 30306 | 1,515 |
Regional Popularity of "Blythe" 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 "Blythe" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
87.41% 2124th/2430 |
- |
67.60% 1876th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
67.21% 1974th/2937 |
56.53% 1969th/3483 |
75.78% 2666th/3518 |
39.71% 1606th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.78% 2387th/3685 |
63.20% 2828th/4475 |
42.38% 2201st/5194 |
36.30% 2293rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
66.11% 3029th/4582 |
78.20% 4038th/5164 |
28.62% 2093rd/7313 |
35.80% 2672nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
45.96% 1831st/3984 |
57.54% 2582nd/4487 |
21.24% 1449th/6822 |
28.71% 1802nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Blythe"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Blythe" 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.