Blessing first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Blessing has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Blessing

A feminine given name meaning a divine gift or favor.

Popularity of Blessing by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Blessing is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 90% of people named Blessing being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 219 female babies and 59 male babies born with the name Blessing.

YearMale CountFemale Count
202459219
202346272
202239197
202127236
202026241
201934291
201827216
201732217
201625191
201527184
201415180
201314144
201211145
201112111
201011109
200914111
20086109
20079104
20061292
20051084
200410103
2003665
2002064
2001669
2000562
1999040
1998040
1997029
1996022
1995022
1994027
1993022
1992015
1991026
1990014
1989014
198805
1987010
198606
198406
198307
198208
198106
197908
197505

The history of the first name Blessing

The name Blessing has its origins in the English language, derived from the word "bless," which means to confer divine grace or favor upon someone or something. The name gained popularity during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries, reflecting the religious sentiments of that era.

The earliest recorded use of the name Blessing dates back to the late 16th century, when it was bestowed upon children as a reflection of their parents' gratitude for their birth and the hope that they would receive divine blessings throughout their lives. The name was particularly prevalent among Puritan communities in England and later in the American colonies.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Blessing was Blessing Fenner, born in 1587 in Dorchester, England. She later immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, Blessing Waldo, born in 1724 in Connecticut, became a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a soldier and later as a member of the Connecticut State Council.

During the 19th century, the name gained further popularity, with several individuals bearing the name making their mark in various fields. Blessing Guyer, born in 1810 in Pennsylvania, was a noted educator and advocate for women's education. Blessing Newkirk, born in 1844 in Ohio, was a renowned minister and author.

In the 20th century, Blessing Musikili, born in 1924 in South Africa, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress. Blessing Rugara, born in 1953 in Zimbabwe, was a celebrated writer and poet, known for his works exploring themes of identity and liberation.

The name Blessing has also been used in literature and popular culture, further contributing to its recognition and symbolic significance. In Toni Morrison's novel "Song of Solomon," one of the central characters is named Blessing, reflecting the author's exploration of themes related to identity and cultural heritage.

Overall, the name Blessing has a rich history rooted in religious and cultural traditions, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of parents for their children to lead blessed lives filled with divine grace and favor.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Blessing was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Blessing, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.

Search
Search
Background shape