Hawthorne first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Hawthorne has been for the last 25 years (from 1999 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Hawthorne

A gender-neutral name derived from the English hawthorn tree.

Popularity of Hawthorne by gender

Based on the last 25 years of data, Hawthorne is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Hawthorne being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Hawthorne.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 19 0
2022 24 0
2021 25 0
2020 19 0
2019 25 0
2018 33 0
2017 29 0
2016 36 6
2015 25 0
2014 20 0
2013 10 0
2012 10 0
2009 5 0
2008 6 0
2007 7 0
2006 6 0
2004 5 0
1999 5 0

The history of the first name Hawthorne

The name Hawthorne is of English origin, derived from the combination of the Old English words "hæg" meaning "hedge" and "thorn" referring to the thorny shrub or tree. This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a hawthorn hedge or thicket.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hawthorne can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records of landowners in medieval England. The rolls mention a John de Hauethorn, indicating the use of the surname at that time.

While the name Hawthorne does not appear to have any direct connections to ancient texts or religious scriptures, it may have been influenced by the cultural significance of the hawthorn plant in various European traditions. The hawthorn was often associated with fertility, protection, and mythology in Celtic and Germanic folklore.

Among the notable individuals who have borne the first name Hawthorne throughout history, we can mention:

  1. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), the renowned American novelist and short story writer, best known for works such as "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of the Seven Gables."

  2. Hawthorne James (1819-1887), a British-born explorer and author who traveled extensively in the American West and wrote several books about his experiences.

  3. Hawthorne Harte (1871-1940), an American actor and playwright who performed on Broadway and in several silent films during the early 20th century.

  4. Hawthorne Woolridge (1925-1994), an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians.

  5. Hawthorne Somers (1941-2021), a British-American actor and voice artist known for his roles in various television shows and films, as well as his work in voice acting for video games and animated series.

The name Hawthorne has continued to be used throughout the centuries, often evoking associations with nature, literature, and historical figures who have contributed to various fields.

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 Hawthorne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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