Bowman Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Bowman' has its roots in Old English, deriving from the word meaning 'bow' and implying a profession as an archer. It has evolved through the language from its early forms in Old English to its current usage. The name is associated with the traits of skill and craft in archery. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with this name.
The name Bowman is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy 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. From 2020-2022, Bowman has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Bowman' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3471st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3852nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4256th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10102nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6911th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6399th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2994th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Bowman' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bowman"
Pronunciation
/ˈboʊ.mən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Bowman' originates from the Old English word 'bōga', meaning 'bow', combined with the suffix '-man', which denotes a person associated with a specific occupation or role.
Meaning
archer
Language Evolution
Bōga (Old English), Bow (Middle English), Bowman (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The surname 'Bowman' became popular in England during the Middle Ages, particularly as archery became a significant part of military tactics.
Variants & Derivatives
Bowmen, Bohman, Bohmann
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, 'Bowman' is viewed positively, often associated with skills in archery or as a surname of notable individuals.
Famous People
James Bowman (American singer), Dale Bowman (American sports commentator), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (née Ruth Joan Bader, but commonly referred to as RBG, has the surname 'Bowman' in her ancestry)
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bowman"
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 "Bowman"
"Bowman" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3471st of 7545 | 89 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3852nd of 6773 | 64 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4256th of 7552 | 58 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10102nd of 10718 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6911th of 16616 | 80 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6399th of 24088 | 181 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2994th of 23106 | 481 |
Regional Popularity of "Bowman" 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) |
- | - |
38.86% 2651st/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Bowman" 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 "Bowman"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bowman" 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.