Blythe
Blythe is a primarily feminine given name from an Old English surname with the same spelling meaning "cheerful", "joyful", "pleasant", dating further back from the Proto-Germanic word blithiz, meaning "gentle", "kind". Variants of the name include Blyth, Blith, and Blithe.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Blythe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Blythe is a primarily feminine given name from an Old English surname with the same spelling meaning "cheerful", "joyful", "pleasant", dating further back from the Proto-Germanic word blithiz, meaning "gentle", "kind". Variants of the name include Blyth, Blith, and Blithe.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Blythe
American parents first put Blythe on the record books as a baby girl name in 1897, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 174 Blythes were born — ranking #1,338 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Blythes. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,799 among baby girl names with 112 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 5K Blythes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Blythe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Blythe is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blythe
What does the name Blythe mean?
What is the origin of the name Blythe?
How popular is Blythe in 2026?
When was Blythe most popular?
In which U.S. states is Blythe most popular?
Is Blythe a unisex name?
What names go well with Blythe?
About the name Blythe
Blythe is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1897 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Blythe's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #1,075. Use the chart and map above to compare Blythe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2013 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.