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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Cheerful, merry, carefree — from Old English blīþe, ultimately Proto-Germanic *blīþiz ('gentle, kind')
- Origin
- Old English (surname)
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- BLYTHE
Blythe began as an Old English surname before it was used as a given name. It has a clear meaning: it comes from the Old English word blīþe (cheerful, merry, carefree), which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning gentle or kind. Today it's used as a name for children of any gender, pronounced BLYTHE (/ˈblaɪð/).
Meaning & Origin of Blythe
Meaning: Cheerful, merry, carefree — from Old English blīþe, ultimately Proto-Germanic *blīþiz ('gentle, kind').
Origin: Old English (surname).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Blythe
BLYTHEIPA /ˈblaɪð/
Popularity of Blythe
SSA records stretching from 1897 to 2024 show Blythe's popularity holding remarkably steady: it peaked at #1075 in 1974 with 109 babies, and in 2024 it sat at #1862 with 107 babies — almost the same small number of babies, five decades apart.
Names Like Blythe
These names share Blythe’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Blythe mean?
Cheerful, merry, carefree — from Old English blīþe, ultimately Proto-Germanic *blīþiz (‘gentle, kind’). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Blythe?
Blythe is pronounced BLYTHE (IPA: /ˈblaɪð/).
Is Blythe a popular name right now?
Blythe peaked at #1075 in 1974 and is ranked #1862 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1897–2024.)
Make Blythe Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Blythe, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Blythe? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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