Glossie
A name derived from the English word "gloss," suggesting a glossy or shiny appearance.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Glossie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Glossie today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Glossie births was 1929 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Glossie. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Glossie is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Glossies were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Glossie. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1929
6 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1953 SSA rank
#5,994
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Glossie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Glossie from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 21 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1930s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Glossie by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Glossie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Glossie
The given name Glossie is a modern English variant derived from the Greek word "glossa," meaning "tongue" or "language." While the name itself is relatively new, its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek civilization, reflecting a connection to communication, eloquence, and linguistic prowess.
Glossie is believed to have emerged as a name in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely influenced by the growing interest in Greek culture and the revival of classical names during this period. Its unique sound and meaning set it apart from more traditional English names, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive moniker for their child.
Historical references to the name are scarce, given its recent inception. However, the name's association with language and communication may have resonated with scholars, writers, or linguists throughout history, although specific examples are difficult to pinpoint.
The earliest recorded instances of Glossie as a first name are found in various birth records and census data from the early 20th century. Notable individuals who bore this name include:
1. Glossie Hargreaves (1901-1988), a British children's book author known for her whimsical tales and imaginative storytelling.
2. Glossie Wilkins (1912-1996), an American educator and advocate for bilingual education, who dedicated her life to promoting linguistic diversity in classrooms.
3. Glossie Ramirez (1924-2002), a Mexican-American poet and translator, renowned for her impeccable command of both Spanish and English languages.
4. Glossie O'Connor (1936-2019), an Irish journalist and broadcaster, celebrated for her articulate reporting and captivating storytelling abilities.
5. Glossie Tanaka (1947-present), a Japanese linguist and professor emeritus, who has made significant contributions to the study of language acquisition and multilingualism.
While the name Glossie may not have a long historical lineage, its connection to language and communication has endowed it with a unique charm and significance in modern times, resonating with individuals who value linguistic expression and the power of words.
People
Glossie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Glossie as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Glossie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Glossie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Glossie going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Glossie a common name?
We classify Glossie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Glossie most popular?
The single biggest year for Glossie was 1929, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Glossie is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Glossie in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Glossie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Glossie in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Glossie still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Glossie in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Glossie can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Glossie?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.