Female Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The term 'female' originates from the Latin word 'feminilis', meaning 'of a woman'. It has evolved through various languages, retaining its reference to the female gender. The term is commonly used in modern contexts to describe biological sex and is viewed as neutral. While there is no biblical background associated with the term, it reflects the traits and characteristics associated with women. Notable figures who embody the essence of 'female' include Marie Curie and Malala Yousafzai.
The name Female is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the Northeast 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, Female has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, 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 male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Female' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2127th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7422nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9274th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Female' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Female"
Pronunciation
/ˈfiːmeɪl/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The word 'female' comes from the Latin word 'feminilis', which means 'of a woman' or 'womanly'. This term is derived from 'femina', meaning 'woman'.
Meaning
woman, of or relating to the sex that produces eggs.
Language Evolution
Latin: feminilis, Old French: femelle, Middle English: femele, Modern English: female
Historical Usage
The term 'female' has been used since the late Middle Ages and gained popularity in the English language during the Renaissance period as a more formal term to describe the feminine gender.
Variants & Derivatives
feminine, woman, girl
Modern Popularity & Image
The term 'female' is widely used in contemporary language, often in biological and sociological contexts. It is generally perceived as a neutral term.
Famous People
Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Explore More Female Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Female"
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 "Female"
"Female" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2127th of 27321 | 916 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7422nd of 35406 | 243 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9274th of 30306 | 133 |
Regional Popularity of "Female" 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) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Female" 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) |
50.96% 1878th/3685 |
15.55% 696th/4475 |
- |
54.88% 3467th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
46.48% 2400th/5164 |
81.95% 5993rd/7313 |
44.12% 3293rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
36.04% 2262nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Female"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Female" 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.