Sibyl Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sibyl has Greek origins, meaning 'prophetess' or 'oracle'. It has evolved through various languages, including Latin and Old French, before becoming established in English. Historically, it is tied to the concept of foresight and wisdom, with no direct biblical connections. The name gained traction during the Renaissance, reflecting a broader interest in classical themes. Today, it is seen as exotic and carries connotations of wisdom. Notable figures with this name include Sibylle of Cleves and Sybil Ludington.
The name Sibyl is most popular in Arkansas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. 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, Sibyl has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, 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 female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sibyl' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 638th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1172nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1894th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3494th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10851st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28780th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7854th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sibyl' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sibyl"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɪb.ɪl/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Sibyl originates from the Greek word 'sibylla', which refers to a prophetess or oracle in ancient times. The term was used to denote women believed to have the ability to predict the future.
Meaning
prophetess, oracle
Language Evolution
Sibylla (Latin), Sibylle (Old French), Sibilla (Italian), Sibyl (English)
Historical Usage
The name Sibyl gained popularity during the Renaissance when interest in classical antiquity surged, particularly due to the revival of ancient texts and the cultural significance of oracles in literature and art.
Variants & Derivatives
Sibilla, Sibylle, Sybil, Sib, Sibby
Modern Popularity & Image
Sibyl is perceived as an exotic and mystical name, often associated with wisdom and foresight due to its historical connections to oracles.
Famous People
Sibylle of Cleves, Sibylle K. F. von Schönburg-Glauchau, Sybil Ludington
Explore More Sibyl Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sibyl"
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 "Sibyl"
"Sibyl" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 638th of 9107 | 2,266 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1172nd of 9204 | 738 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1894th of 12526 | 610 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3494th of 19264 | 297 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 10851st of 27321 | 82 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28780th of 35406 | 12 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7854th of 30306 | 169 |
Regional Popularity of "Sibyl" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sibyl" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
51.84% 734th/1416 |
- |
19.53% 462nd/2366 |
94.57% 1080th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
50.49% 1188th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
68.45% 1953rd/2853 |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sibyl"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sibyl" 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.