Cade

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

Cade

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Cade comes from an English surname meaning “Round.”

History:
Cade was originally a nickname for a “round” or “stout” person. As time went by it was adopted as a surname.

Cade is another example of an English surname transferred for use as a first name.

Originally, it would have been bestowed upon sons as either a first or a middle name in order to honor the Cade surname. For example, a woman named Mary Cade who married a man named John Smith, may name her son John Cade Smith, or merely Cade Smith. Or a man wishing to honor Judge Thomas Cade may name his son Thomas Cade Johnson, or Cade Johnson.

Cade became common in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century.

The name Cade was used by Margaret Mitchell for a minor character in her very popular 1936 novel Gone With the Wind, but the name did not appear on the charts until the 1970s, so it is unlikely to have been that influential. The movie had a much more profound effect on names, but the character of Cade Calvert was not important to the film at all.

Pronunciation: kayd.

Alternates: Caide, Cayde.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.004 % named Cade

Popularity of Cade:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1971: N/A
1972: 992nd most popular.
1973-1976: N/A
1977: 979th most popular.
1978-1982: N/A
1983: 999th most popular.
1984: N/A
1985: 895th most popular.
1986: N/A
1987: 901st most popular.
1988: 941st most popular.
1989: 961st most popular.
1990: 936th most popular.
1991: 925th most popular.
1992: 857th most popular.
1993: 726th most popular.
1994: 613th most popular.
1995: 527th most popular.
1996: 504th most popular.
1997: 471st most popular.
1998: 344th most popular.
1999: 227th most popular.
2000: 216th most popular.
2001: 202nd most popular.
2002: 208th most popular.
2003: 221st most popular.
2004: 251st most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

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)