Indigo Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Indigo' originates from Greek and Latin, meaning 'deep blue dye', reflecting its historical significance in the dyeing industry. It has evolved through various languages and is associated with creativity. There is no biblical relevance, and while it gained popularity during the Middle Ages, it remains a modern symbol of individuality. Notable people associated with the name include the musical duo Indigo Girls.
The name Indigo is most popular in Colorado, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining 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, Indigo has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Indigo' has shown interesting popularity patterns: 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 4887th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2120th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 19264th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3834th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2728th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1241st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Indigo' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Indigo"
Pronunciation
/ˈɪndɪɡoʊ/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name 'Indigo' is derived from the Latin 'indicum', which comes from the Greek word 'indikon', meaning 'from India'. It was used to describe the dye extracted from the plant Indigofera tinctoria, which was historically valued for its deep blue color.
Meaning
Deep blue dye
Language Evolution
Greek: ἰνδικόν (indikon), Latin: indicum, Old French: indigo, Middle English: indigo
Historical Usage
Indigo gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages as a dye for textiles, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries when trade routes to India became established. Its use expanded with the growth of the textile industry.
Variants & Derivatives
Indy, Indi
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Indigo evokes a sense of creativity and individuality. It is often associated with the arts and is a popular name choice for both boys and girls in contemporary culture.
Famous People
Indigo Girls (musical duo), Indigo Bunting (bird species, often referenced in literature)
Explore More Indigo Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Indigo"
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 "Indigo"
"Indigo" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10567th of 16616 | 28 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4887th of 24088 | 270 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2120th of 23106 | 809 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 19264th of 19264 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3834th of 27321 | 403 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2728th of 35406 | 956 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1241st of 30306 | 2,336 |
Regional Popularity of "Indigo" 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) |
- | - | - |
49.12% 3666th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
55.72% 2220th/3984 |
60.71% 2724th/4487 |
39.46% 2692nd/6822 |
23.30% 1462nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Indigo" 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) |
83.23% 3067th/3685 |
54.21% 2426th/4475 |
86.39% 4487th/5194 |
52.15% 3294th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
62.59% 2868th/4582 |
57.77% 2983rd/5164 |
52.78% 3860th/7313 |
36.23% 2704th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
32.03% 1276th/3984 |
28.15% 1263rd/4487 |
20.33% 1387th/6822 |
15.74% 988th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Indigo"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Indigo" 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.