Sharon

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Sharon

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Sharon is a Hebrew word which is usually translated as “Plain.” The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, however, claims it comes from the Hebrew word “sar” meaning “to sing” or “singer” and referred to a valley named for its beauty.

History:
Sharon was a place name in the Bible. As such it was used as a male name during the Puritan era. The Biblical Sharon was also mentioned in the phrase “Rose of Sharon,” which referred to a woman.

Later, in the Victorian era, “flower names” began trendy for girls. Rose of Sharon, or simply Sharon was occasionally brought into use this way. It would have been highly rare, though. In his 1935 book What Shall We Name the Baby? Winthrop Ames doesn’t mention the name Sharon at all.

In any case, Sharon suddenly became common in the late 1920s, and soon grew to be highly popular in Britain and the U.S. in the 1940s.

Pronunciation: share-on.

Alternates: Rosasharon, Rosasharn Sharan, Sharanda, Shari, Sharona, Sharron, Sharyn, Sharonda, Sharona, Sheri, Shera.
Hawaiian: Kalona.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Sharon Olds (f., 1942-)
American poet.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Sharon Turner (m., 1768-1847)
English historian.

Singers and Entertainers:
Sharon Tate (f., 1943-1969)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.522 % named Sharon
0.028 % named Shari
0.014 % named Sharron
0.005 % named Sharyn
0.003 % named Sharen
0.003 % named Sharee
0.001 % named Sharan

Popularity of Sharon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1924: N/A
1925: 787th most popular.
1926: 679th most popular.
1927: 661st most popular.
1928: 552nd most popular.
1929: 342nd most popular.
1930: 286th most popular.
1931: 253rd most popular.
1932: 229th most popular.
1933: 178th most popular.
1934: 149th most popular.
1935: 96th most popular.
1936: 60th most popular.
1937: 41st most popular.
1938: 30th most popular.
1939: 23rd most popular.
1940: 17th most popular.
1941: 15th most popular.
1942: 11th most popular.
1943: 8th most popular.
1944: 9th most popular.
1945: 8th most popular. - Peak!
1946: 9th most popular.
1947: 9th most popular.
1948: 9th most popular.
1949: 10th most popular.
1950: 11th most popular.
1951: 13th most popular.
1952: 14th most popular.
1953: 15th most popular.
1954: 16th most popular.
1955: 15th most popular.
1956: 15th most popular.
1957: 15th most popular.
1958: 17th most popular.
1959: 17th most popular.
1960: 16th most popular.
1961: 17th most popular.
1962: 17th most popular.
1963: 19th most popular.
1964: 20th most popular.
1965: 22nd most popular.
1966: 28th most popular.
1967: 30th most popular.
1968: 32nd most popular.
1969: 36th most popular.
1970: 37th most popular.
1971: 40th most popular.
1972: 49th most popular.
1973: 57th most popular.
1974: 70th most popular.
1975: 75th most popular.
1976: 81st most popular.
1977: 95th most popular.
1978: 106th most popular.
1979: 118th most popular.
1980: 129th most popular.
1981: 130th most popular.
1982: 144th most popular.
1983: 159th most popular.
1984: 167th most popular.
1985: 177th most popular.
1986: 187th most popular.
1987: 211th most popular.
1988: 217th most popular.
1989: 244th most popular.
1990: 272nd most popular.
1991: 280th most popular.
1992: 290th most popular.
1993: 305th most popular.
1994: 305th most popular.
1995: 318th most popular.
1996: 320th most popular.
1997: 356th most popular.
1998: 400th most popular.
1999: 402nd most popular.
2000: 418th most popular.
2001: 464th most popular.
2002: 511th most popular.
2003: 522nd most popular.
2004: 559th most popular.

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)