Spencer (given name)

Last updated
Spencer
GenderUnisex
Language(s) English
Origin
Meaning"dispenser of provisions"
Other names
Nickname(s)Spence

Spencer is a given name of British origin, that means "steward" or "administrator". It is a shortened form of the English word dispenser, which derives from Anglo-French dispensour, from Old French dispenseor, from Latin dispensatorem, the agent noun of dispensare, meaning "to disperse, administer, and distribute (by weight)". [1] The name originated as the surname Spencer, but later gradually came to be used as a given name as well.

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From its origin as a surname, it has been given to both males and females, [2] but it has historically been more common as a name for males. [2] According to the Social Security Administration of the United States, its popularity as a male given name began increasing steadily in the early twentieth century [2] and spiked dramatically in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. [2] Its usage peaked in 1998 with 4,619 baby boys named Spencer in that year. [2] In the late 2000s, the name's popularity for male infants declined and plateaued between roughly 1,400 - 1,500 boys named Spencer each year. [2]

Its usage as a female given name began to gradually increase in the late 1970s before suddenly taking off in the mid-1980s. [2] Female usage of the name declined in the late 2000s, [2] but has been rising rapidly since 2009. [2] 244 baby girls were named Spencer in 2016. [2]

List of persons with the given name

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Fictional characters

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Spencer the Painter, a character from the British children's television programme, Balamory

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References

  1. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Dispenser". Online Etymology Dictionary. etymonline.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Spencer". The Name Meaning. thenamemeaning.com. 23 May 2014.
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