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Faith Girl

Popularity: #234 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Pronunciationfayth / /feɪθ/

English; Latin

Meaning

English: trust; Latin: faithfulness

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Faith derives from the Latin word "fides," which means "faith" or "trust." This Latin term evolved into Old French as "feid" or "feith," before being adopted into Middle English as "feith" during the 14th century. The transition into English reflects a broader cultural and linguistic exchange, particularly influenced by the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which introduced many Latin and French terms into the English lexicon. As a virtue name, Faith embodies a significant moral and philosophical concept, often associated with religious belief and trust in divine providence.

Historically, the name Faith has been linked to various religious texts and figures. In Christian tradition, faith is one of the three theological virtues, alongside hope and charity, as articulated by St. Paul in his letters during the 1st century CE. The name gained further prominence through its use in literature and religious contexts, notably appearing in the King James Bible, published in 1611, which helped solidify its place in English-speaking cultures. Additionally, the name has been borne by several saints and figures in Christian hagiography, reinforcing its spiritual significance.

Culturally, the name Faith has resonated through various artistic and literary works, symbolizing hope, loyalty, and steadfastness. It has been used in allegorical contexts, such as in John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress" from the 17th century, where characters embody different virtues, including faith. The name also has a diminutive form, "Fay," which has been used historically but is less common. Overall, the name Faith carries a rich heritage that reflects its enduring association with virtue and belief across centuries.

Trend Summary

Faith has experienced fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Fayth
  • Faithe

International Variants

  • Fei (Chinese)
  • Fé (French)
  • Féith (Irish)

Famous people named Faith

Faith Hill is a singer and actress best known for Breathe, This Kiss, and The Way You Love Me.

Faith Evans is a singer and songwriter best known for her albums Faith, Keep the Faith, and The First Lady.

Faith No More is a rock band best known for their albums The Real Thing, Angel Dust, and Album of the Year.

Faith Ringgold is an artist and author best known for her quilts, Tar Beach, and her children's books.

Fictional characters named Faith

Faith Lehane is a fictional character from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She is a slayer who struggles with her dark impulses and complex relationships with other characters in the series.

Faith is a fictional character from the comic book series Faith. She is a superheroine with the ability to fly and superhuman strength, navigating her life as a plus-sized hero in a world that often overlooks her.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Faith was first seen in the United States in 1880. Faith has ranked as high as #124 nationally, which occurred in 2003, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Faith has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Faith (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 158
13%
CA 112
9%
FL 83
7%
NY 62
5%
GA 47
4%
PA 46
4%
OH 45
4%
NC 41
3%
IN 38
3%
MO 35
3%
VA 34
3%
IL 32
3%
AZ 31
3%
WA 27
2%
MN 26
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18806
18815
18829
18846
188510
188616
18875
188813
188916
189010
189127
189221
189314
189423
189521
189627
189725
189837
189929
190033
190129
190221
190332
190427
190519
190639
190720
190835
190939
191035
191147
191267
191379
191491
1915126
1916113
1917156
1918174
1919152
1920164
1921190
1922219
1923222
1924232
1925225
1926225
1927216
1928212
1929199
1930230
1931261
1932340
1933330
1934325
1935301
1936354
1937339
1938327
1939383
1940371
1941463
1942571
1943570
1944447
1945424
1946436
1947459
1948400
1949387
1950457
1951588
1952602
1953604
1954676
1955800
1956779
1957827
1958786
1959839
1960874
1961783
1962729
1963794
1964806
1965708
1966654
1967595
1968533
1969523
1970550
1971529
1972526
1973512
1974542
1975556
1976637
1977803
1978840
1979861
1980806
1981795
1982686
1983663
1984635
1985558
1986634
1987561
1988621
1989707
1990940
19911,074
19921,140
19931,134
19941,305
19951,747
19962,159
19972,577
19983,217
19994,236
20004,998
20015,411
20025,527
20035,597
20045,420
20055,256
20064,864
20074,307
20083,634
20093,767
20103,704
20113,733
20123,559
20133,419
20143,738
20153,347
20163,090
20172,640
20182,470
20192,273
20201,998
20211,744
20221,562
20231,271
20241,272