Roswell Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Roswell has its roots in Old English, meaning 'horse spring'. It has evolved through various historical forms while maintaining its original meaning. The name is linked to a period of increased popularity in the 19th century and has a unique modern association with UFO culture. There are notable figures named Roswell, contributing to its recognition.
The name Roswell is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation 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. From 2020-2022, Roswell has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. 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. Across generations, 'Roswell' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1199th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1746th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2481st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9536th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13873rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12762nd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Roswell' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Roswell"
Pronunciation
/ˈrɒz.wɛl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Roswell is derived from the Old English elements 'ros' meaning 'horse' and 'wella' meaning 'spring' or 'stream', thus it can be interpreted as 'horse spring'.
Meaning
horse spring
Language Evolution
Roswell, Roswel, Roswelle
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in the English-speaking world, and was notably used as a place name in various locations.
Variants & Derivatives
Ros, Rosie, Wells
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Roswell is often associated with the famous UFO incident in 1947, which has contributed to its unique cultural image and intrigue.
Famous People
Roswell P. Flower - Governor of New York, Roswell B. Mason - American politician
Explore More Roswell Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Roswell"
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 "Roswell"
"Roswell" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1199th of 7545 | 566 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1746th of 6773 | 310 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2481st of 7552 | 206 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4718th of 10718 | 76 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9536th of 16616 | 37 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 13873rd of 24088 | 39 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 12762nd of 23106 | 43 |
Regional Popularity of "Roswell" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
46.56% 642nd/1379 |
75.44% 1785th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
52.70% 820th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
68.91% 1966th/2853 |
- |
| 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 "Roswell" 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 "Roswell"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Roswell" 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.