Meadow
Meadow Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of Meadow: The name Meadow derives from the Modern English word "meadow," tracing back to Old English maedwe meaning a grassy field. According to Online Etymology Dictionary, the Old English term traces to Proto-Germanic medwaz, related to the root meaning to mow, since meadows were fields kept for hay mowing rather than grazing. The word has described low-lying grassy land near rivers since the 13th century.
Nature names as given names represent one of the oldest naming categories in English, with Lily, Rose, and Violet preceding 20th-century arrivals by centuries. The modern wave of nature names from the 1990s onward brought words like River, Sky, and Meadow into formal use as given names, reflecting a cultural shift toward natural world imagery in American naming.
According to SSA records, Meadow ranked #327 for girls in the most recent annual count, with 946 births recorded. The name peaked in 2024, within the contemporary nature name movement that saw Willow, Aurora, Ivy, and Sage rise into the American top 100 during the 2010s and 2020s.
What Does Meadow Mean? Origin & Etymology
The name gained cultural visibility through HBO's The Sopranos (1999-2007), which featured a character named Meadow Soprano. The show's enormous cultural impact introduced Meadow to millions of American viewers and established it as a recognizable given name with a specific 21st-century cultural timestamp.
Meadow appeals to parents who want a name rooted in the natural world while remaining distinctly modern. Unlike classical nature names such as Lily or Iris with centuries of use, Meadow retains freshness that marks it as an intentional choice. According to Britannica, meadow ecosystems support exceptional biodiversity, making the word evocative of natural abundance and vitality.
How Popular Is Meadow?
Numerology & Symbolism of Meadow
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Meadow – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Meadow
What does the name Meadow mean?
The name Meadow originates in ancient Greek. Greek names frequently encoded concepts from mythology, philosophy, or the natural world, and many were preserved through the New Testament and early Christian tradition.
How popular is the name Meadow in the United States?
According to SSA records, Meadow ranked #327 for girl names in the United States, with 946 births recorded in the most recent annual count. The name hit its highest SSA rank in 2024. It has held a consistent place in US naming statistics across multiple decades.
Where does the name Meadow come from?
The name Meadow comes from Greek. It entered English use through the linguistic and cultural channels typical of Greek-origin names—whether through religious texts, migration, or the prestige associated with classical learning. Today it is recognized as a girl’s name across the English-speaking world.