Little Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LIT-ul /ˈlɪt.əl/
Origin: English
Meaning: small one
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Little has its roots in the Old English word "lytel," which means "small" or "little." This term evolved through various forms, including the Middle English "litel," before being adopted into the surname Little in the English language. The transition into a surname likely occurred during the late Middle Ages, as surnames became more common in England, particularly in the 13th century.
The name may have originally been a nickname for someone of small stature or could have been used to denote a younger member of a family, reflecting the linguistic tendency to use physical characteristics or familial relationships as identifiers. Historically, the name Little has been borne by various notable figures and families.
One significant milestone is its appearance in medieval records, where it was often used to denote land ownership or familial lineage. The name is found in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landholdings in England.
Additionally, the name has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history, including members of the English gentry and nobility. The name's presence in literature and historical texts further solidified its place in English culture.
Culturally, the name Little carries connotations of humility and modesty, often symbolizing simplicity and a down-to-earth nature. This aligns with the broader cultural appreciation for names that reflect personal characteristics or virtues.
The diminutive form "Littles" can also be noted, which may have been used affectionately or informally in various contexts. Overall, the name Little encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and historical significance, reflecting the evolution of language and identity within English-speaking cultures.
Famous people named Little
In this section, you will find notable people named Little. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Little who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Little who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Little Richard is a musician best known for Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, and Good Golly, Miss Molly.
Little Stevie Wonder is a musician best known for Superstition, I Just Called to Say I Love You, and Isn't She Lovely.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Little, 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 Little. 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 Little was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Little has ranked as high as #1046 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Little has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Little 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 Little was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Little (1974)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SC | 5 |
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 Little.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 15 |
| 1991 | 8 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1989 | 17 |
| 1988 | 8 |
| 1986 | 14 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1984 | 15 |
| 1983 | 15 |
| 1982 | 22 |
| 1981 | 18 |
| 1980 | 23 |
| 1979 | 22 |
| 1978 | 17 |
| 1977 | 25 |
| 1976 | 23 |
| 1975 | 32 |
| 1974 | 29 |
| 1973 | 28 |
| 1972 | 26 |
| 1971 | 29 |
| 1970 | 17 |
| 1969 | 20 |
| 1968 | 29 |
| 1967 | 20 |
| 1966 | 16 |
| 1965 | 27 |
| 1964 | 14 |
| 1963 | 20 |
| 1962 | 21 |
| 1961 | 25 |
| 1960 | 18 |
| 1959 | 28 |
| 1958 | 12 |
| 1957 | 21 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 14 |
| 1954 | 16 |
| 1953 | 21 |
| 1952 | 16 |
| 1951 | 16 |
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1949 | 15 |
| 1948 | 19 |
| 1947 | 21 |
| 1946 | 18 |
| 1945 | 13 |
| 1944 | 10 |
| 1943 | 18 |
| 1942 | 19 |
| 1941 | 13 |
| 1940 | 15 |
| 1939 | 11 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 20 |
| 1936 | 16 |
| 1935 | 13 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 16 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1931 | 18 |
| 1930 | 17 |
| 1929 | 17 |
| 1928 | 18 |
| 1927 | 22 |
| 1926 | 16 |
| 1925 | 21 |
| 1924 | 21 |
| 1923 | 17 |
| 1922 | 23 |
| 1921 | 22 |
| 1920 | 22 |
| 1919 | 22 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1917 | 22 |
| 1916 | 14 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1914 | 10 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 13 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1898 | 5 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1883 | 5 |