Imogen
Imogen is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Maiden or innocent child.
Origin and history
Imogen is a feminine given name of Celtic origin, derived from the Gaelic word for 'maiden' or 'girl'. It gained literary prominence after appearing in William Shakespeare's play Cymbeline, likely due to a misprint of the name Innogen. In the United States, Imogen has grown steadily in popularity in recent years as a vintage literary choice.
Popularity in the United States
3,179 babies in the United States have been named Imogen since 1880. It ranks #3154 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1118.
States where it is most popular
- CA (20.5 %)
- NY (12.3 %)
- TX (10.1 %)
- IL (6.1 %)
- WA (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 14 |
| 1920-1930 | 20 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 5 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 50 |
| 2000-2010 | 503 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,429 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,158 |
Famous people named Imogen
- Imogen Heap: Singer, Songwriter
- Imogen Poots: Actress
- Imogen Cunningham: Photographer
Nicknames
Immy, Immie, Genie, Ginny
Fun facts
- The name is widely believed to have arisen from a printing error in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, misspelling the Celtic name Innogen.
- In Cymbeline, Imogen is renowned for her loyalty, intelligence, and virtue, helping cement the name's positive reputation.
- While long popular in the UK and Australia, Imogen has seen a notable increase in U.S. usage since 2010.