Augusta

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Augusta

Gender: Feminine
Language: Latin, English, German

Etymology:
Augusta is the feminine form of Augustus, a Latin word for “Venerable,” “Consecrated,” “Majestic,” or “Grandeur.” It comes from “augere” (to increase).

History:
Augusta was formed in the 16th century by German royals as a feminine form of Augustus, which was then a popular name among them. The name soon spread to the rest of the German population and remained common for the next several centuries.

Augusta crossed to England when Augusta of Saxe-Gotha married Frederick, the Prince of Wales (their child was King George III of England). It was fairly common during the 19th century.

The name Augusta peaked in Britain in the late 19th century, and in the United States in the mid-1850s (at this time there were many German immigrants to the U.S.). In the U.S. the name Augusta declined throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, virtually disappearing by the 1940s.

Pronunciation: OG-uss-tah, AH-goos-tah

Diminutives:
English: Gus, Gussie, Gusta, Austina, Austine.

Alternates: Augustina, Augustine, Augusteen.
French: Auguste.

Masculine: Augustus.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Augusta Maywood (1825-1876)
American ballerina.
Augusta Jane Evans Wilson (1835-1909)
American author.
Lady Augusta Gregory (1852-1932)
Irish writer and playwright.
Augusta Savage (1892-1962)
American sculptor.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Augusta Braxton Baker (1911-1998)
American librarian.

Places:
Augusta
Maine
Port Augusta
Australia

Religious Figures:
Augusta Emma Stetson (1842-1928)
Christian Science leader.

Royalty:
Augusta (1811-1890)
Wife of William I of Germany.

Scientists:
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852)
English mathematician.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.010 % named Augusta
0.003 % named Augustine
0.003 % named Agustina
0.002 % named Augustina

Popularity of Augusta:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 59th most popular.
1875: 87th most popular.
1880: 113th most popular.
1881: 113th most popular.
1882: 113th most popular.
1883: 108th most popular.
1884: 117th most popular.
1885: 118th most popular.
1886: 120th most popular.
1887: 127th most popular.
1888: 131st most popular.
1889: 132nd most popular.
1890: 130th most popular.
1891: 139th most popular.
1892: 143rd most popular.
1893: 151st most popular.
1894: 157th most popular.
1895: 154th most popular.
1896: 165th most popular.
1897: 178th most popular.
1898: 185th most popular.
1899: 185th most popular.
1900: 200th most popular.
1901: 185th most popular.
1902: 214th most popular.
1903: 206th most popular.
1904: 222nd most popular.
1905: 209th most popular.
1906: 239th most popular.
1907: 226th most popular.
1908: 268th most popular.
1909: 268th most popular.
1910: 288th most popular.
1911: 282nd most popular.
1912: 287th most popular.
1913: 300th most popular.
1914: 322nd most popular.
1915: 303rd most popular.
1916: 329th most popular.
1917: 349th most popular.
1918: 345th most popular.
1919: 380th most popular.
1920: 380th most popular.
1921: 401st most popular.
1922: 426th most popular.
1923: 423rd most popular.
1924: 446th most popular.
1925: 477th most popular.
1926: 488th most popular.
1927: 520th most popular.
1928: 563rd most popular.
1929: 597th most popular.
1930: 558th most popular.
1931: 584th most popular.
1932: 602nd most popular.
1933: 558th most popular.
1934: 669th most popular.
1935: 662nd most popular.
1936: 723rd most popular.
1937: 723rd most popular.
1938: 845th most popular.
1939: 779th most popular.
1940: 800th most popular.
1941: 775th most popular.
1942: 826th most popular.
1943: 834th most popular.
1944: 970th most popular.
1945-2004: N/A

In France...
1900: 66th most popular.
1910: 73rd most popular.
1920: 87th most popular.
1930: 130th most popular.
1937: 193rd most popular.
1940-2000: N/A

Selected Sources:
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)