Elgin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Elgin is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning 'the place of the grove'. It evolved from 'Eilginn' to its modern form 'Elgin'. The name is tied to a historical location in Scotland and gained popularity in the 19th century. It is perceived as traditional and is associated with notable figures such as Elgin Baylor and Elgin James.
The name Elgin is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. 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. 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, Elgin has been stalled 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, 'Elgin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 926th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1197th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1323rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1250th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2247th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3714th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5535th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5657th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8498th out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Elgin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elgin"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛlɡɪn/
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
The name Elgin is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Eilginn', which is believed to mean 'the place of the grove'. It refers to a location in Moray, Scotland.
Meaning
the place of the grove
Language Evolution
Eilginn, Elgin
Historical Usage
Elgin gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, especially in Scotland, due to its association with the town of Elgin.
Variants & Derivatives
Elgyn, Elgynne
Modern Popularity & Image
Elgin is viewed as a traditional and somewhat unique name, often associated with Scottish heritage and history.
Famous People
Elgin Baylor, an American basketball player, Elgin James, an American filmmaker and musician
Explore More Elgin Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elgin"
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 "Elgin"
"Elgin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 926th of 7545 | 875 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1197th of 6773 | 597 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1323rd of 7552 | 648 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1250th of 10718 | 723 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2247th of 16616 | 466 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3714th of 24088 | 400 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5535th of 23106 | 197 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5657th of 9107 | 36 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8498th of 9204 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Elgin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
63.63% 901st/1416 |
- |
33.01% 781st/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
- |
47.22% 1111th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
48.62% 1387th/2853 |
51.57% 1431st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
46.48% 1365th/2937 |
45.02% 1568th/3483 |
37.52% 1320th/3518 |
31.13% 1259th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
- |
51.44% 2672nd/5194 |
39.20% 2476th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
48.32% 3606th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Elgin" 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 "Elgin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elgin" 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.