Infant Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: IN-fuhnt /ˈɪn.fənt/
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: very young child; Latin: infantem (unable to speak)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name "Infant" derives from the Latin word "infans," which means "unable to speak" or "speechless," a combination of the prefix "in-" meaning "not" and "fans," the present participle of "fari," meaning "to speak." This term was historically used in reference to very young children, particularly those who had not yet developed the ability to articulate words. The transition from Latin to Old French saw the term evolve into "enfant," which maintained the same meaning.
The English language later adopted the term as "infant" during the Middle Ages, retaining its original connotation of a young child or baby. Throughout history, the term has been used in various contexts, particularly in legal and religious texts.
In the context of the Christian tradition, the term "infant" is often associated with the biblical narrative of Jesus Christ's birth, emphasizing the significance of childhood and innocence. The King James Bible, published in 1611, includes references to infants, further embedding the term within the cultural and religious lexicon of English-speaking societies.
The notion of the "holy infant" has been a recurring theme in Christian art and literature, symbolizing purity and the potential for new beginnings. Culturally, the term "infant" has resonated through various traditions and practices, often symbolizing vulnerability and the need for protection.
In many societies, the care and nurturing of infants are seen as paramount, reflecting broader values of family and community. The diminutive form "infante" has also been used historically in Spanish and Portuguese contexts, particularly in royal titles, denoting a son of a monarch who is not the heir apparent.
This usage highlights the broader implications of the term beyond mere age, connecting it to themes of lineage and social status.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Infant, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Infant. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Infant was first seen in the United States in 1983.
Infant has ranked as high as #481 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in Texas, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Infant has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Infant is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Infant was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Infant.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 16 | 14 |
| 2023 | 43 | 20 | 23 |
| 2022 | 35 | 15 | 20 |
| 2021 | 38 | 19 | 19 |
| 2020 | 27 | 12 | 15 |
| 2019 | 29 | 16 | 13 |
| 2018 | 22 | 9 | 13 |
| 2017 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 2016 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 2013 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2009 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 2008 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 2007 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2005 | 174 | 95 | 79 |
| 2004 | 219 | 135 | 84 |
| 2003 | 181 | 96 | 85 |
| 2002 | 234 | 125 | 109 |
| 2001 | 219 | 109 | 110 |
| 2000 | 427 | 217 | 210 |
| 1999 | 711 | 361 | 350 |
| 1998 | 315 | 149 | 166 |
| 1997 | 377 | 208 | 169 |
| 1996 | 394 | 200 | 194 |
| 1995 | 466 | 244 | 222 |
| 1994 | 375 | 195 | 180 |
| 1993 | 397 | 202 | 195 |
| 1992 | 608 | 324 | 284 |
| 1991 | 415 | 229 | 186 |
| 1990 | 1,178 | 596 | 582 |
| 1989 | 768 | 376 | 392 |
| 1988 | 155 | 78 | 77 |
| 1987 | 50 | 34 | 16 |
| 1986 | 40 | 21 | 19 |
| 1985 | 37 | 18 | 19 |
| 1984 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| 1983 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Top States for Infant (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 |