Name of the day: Ramsey
Originated as a surname Ramsey is a bold yet sturdy up and coming first name option.
Surname Turned First Name
The origins of the name Ramsey have been called into question for centuries. There has been speculation to believe the Ramsey clan may be a descendant of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II however it has yet to be proven. In fact, Ramsey isn’t Egyptian at all. It is actually Old English based of the Scottish surname Ramsay.
The surname Ramsey comes from the place-name Ramsey derived from the Old-English word “hramsa” meaning an “island where wild garlic grows”. The first records of the surname Ramsey trace back to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England when in the 12th century, a Norman baron from Huntingdon named Symon de Ramesie brought the surname Ramsay over to Scotland upon accompanying David, the Earl of Huntingdon. By 1140, Symon was granted land in Midlothian by David in which he planted his roots becoming the founder of the Scottish Ramsay line. Then in the 13th century Ramsey emerged as a surname in England.
After the revolutionary war, some of the the Scottish clan relocated to America (often settling in Pennsylvania) prompting a fresh start with a spelling change from Ramsay to Ramsey, the spelling that is primarily used here today.
The origins vary depending on your preferred spelling. Ramsey is the English spelling; Ramsay the Scottish. The most notable people to bear these surnames included celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and financial advisor Dave Ramsey.
Overtime the surname caught on as a first name position for both boys and girls alike.
Game of Thrones
Today the spelling of Ramsay is the most recognizable to the younger generation thanks to fictional character Ramsay Bolton. Previously known as Ramsay Snow, he is a character in the novel series A Song of Ice and Fire first written in 1996 by George R. R. Martin which was later adapted into the television series Game of Thrones.
Presidential Element
Ramsey Clark was a lawyer and a federal government official under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson as the United States Assistant Attorney General. Ramsey also served as the 66th United States Attorney General under President Johnson from November 28, 1966 - January 20, 1969.
Musical Notoriety
Jay Ramsey is an American singer, songwriter who has written several hit songs in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that were recorded by popular artists including Elvis Presley’s “We Can Make The Morning”, Conway Twitty’s “Draggin’ Chains” and Roy Clark’s “Lord, Let it Rain”.
Gender Neutral By The Numbers
While this name has several strong male associations Ramsey has been used as a gender neutral first name throughout history.
One woman who brings female empowerment to the name is Ramsey Ann Naito; she serves as the president of both Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation. She was also the producer of the animated comedy film The Boss Baby released in 2017 earning herself several awards for her work. Through Nickelodeon, Ramsey was the executive production manager of the films Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, The Wild Thornberrys Movie and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Ramsey even served as the Head of the Movies department of Cartoon Network in the mid 2000’s becoming a producer of TV movies Ben 10 and Scooby-Doo.
Ramsey was first recognized as a feminine option in 1965 when 5 girls were given the name. The name took a five year hiatus until 1970 when 6 girls given the name. Ramsey didn’t grow steady as a female name until 1976. Ramsey ranked the highest for girls in 2016 with 115 girls in total.
As for the boys, the name Ramsey entered the top 1,000 in 1974 at #991 with 69 boys given the name. The name fluctuated in popularity rising and falling on and off the charts before making an official hiatus from the top 1,000 in 1997.
As of 2020 the number is still rather low for both genders. There were 94 girls and 122 boys named Ramsey. Adding to a total of 1,832 girls and 6,071 boys being given the name since 1910.
We see this name making for an excellent alternative to the currently trending Raiden, Ransom and Rhodes; or even Halsey come to mention it. Ramsey is favorable for it’s versatility. This name is strong and sturdy yet also a little rugged but wearable nevertheless.
The only thing left to consider is whether you prefer Ramsey for a boy or a girl? Let us know in the comments your preference and what you would pair it with.