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Marie Lanen
Head of parenting sections (baby, pregnancy, family), psychology and beauty
Worn by 196,000 people in France, this first name reached its peak in 1987. Although it is less popular today, it remains a classic and elegant choice of first name. Doctissimo reveals which first name it is!
Some first names, although they are no longer very popular, had a certain moment of glory a few decades ago. This is particularly the case for Julie, who remains the 20th most popular first name today. Discover all her secrets.
A first name referring to Julius Caesar
The name Julie has its roots in the Latin name “Iulia” or “Julia”, which is the feminine form of “Julius”, a famous Roman surname. The name is often associated with the Julia gens (Roman social system), one of the oldest and most respected patrician families in ancient Rome, with one of the most famous members being Julius Caesar. In French, the name Julie means “belonging to the family of Julius” or “she who is young and full of life”.
A first name from the top 300 in France
From its golden age to its decline in popularity, Doctissimo has traced the path of the first name Julie in the attribution ranks in France.
1970s to 1990s: Julie’s Golden Age
- In the 1980s, Julie became one of the most popular names in France. In 1987, Julie was the most popular girl’s name, with nearly 14,000 births recorded that year. Julie’s popularity continued to dominate the charts in the following years, maintaining a strong presence among parents’ favorite names.
2000s to today: A gradual decline
- Since the 2000s, there has been a gradual decrease in the number of births of little Julies. In 2000, around 3,500 Julies were born in France, while this figure fell to around 1,500 births in 2010.
- In 2020, according to data from INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), fewer than 500 little girls were given the first name Julie, which shows a fairly marked downward trend compared to previous decades.
There are several factors that may explain this shift. Names often follow fashion cycles, and what was popular at one time may seem outdated later. Parents often look for more unique and less common names, which may explain the decline in popularity of names like Julie, which was extremely popular a few decades ago.
The first name Julie in popular culture
The name Julie is frequently used in literature, film, and music. Famous people include Julie Delpy, a well-known French actress and director, and Julie Andrews, a famous British actress and singer. Also remembered is the character Julie (played by Andrea Bowen), Susan Mayer’s daughter in the hit series Desperate Housewives. The name has also been immortalized in songs and novels, continuing to captivate with its simplicity and timeless charm.
Although the name Julie is less popular today than it was in its heyday, it remains a classic and elegant name. With its ancient roots and history, Julie continues to be a popular choice for many French families. It is possible that this short name will see a comeback in popularity in the coming decades, continuing its journey through time.
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