Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Gloria

Gloria comes from the Latin vocabulary word meaning “glory”. Glory is essentially the prestige, respect, admiration and honor that is given to one who achieves something of importance and praiseworthy. It also connotes a sense of sublime beauty which inspires great wonder or joy (a “glorious” sunset, for instance). The word is often used in a religious sense – i.e., the glory of God or in God’s glory (a state of spiritual ecstasy). Gloria is really a 20th century name, although it was coined in a couple of works of literature in the late 19th century, most notably George Bernard Shaw’s comedy “You Can Never Tell” (1897). As a female given name Gloria was pretty well-received by the early 20th century. Adding more currency to the name was Gloria Swanson, one of the most well-known film stars of the silent era.

All About the Baby Name – Gloria

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME GLORIA

The number Eight personality has everything to do with power, wealth and abundance. Somehow, this personality has been blessed on the material plane, but their authoritative and problem-solving traits provide evidence that their good fortunes are not just the luck of the lottery. They are well earned. This is the personality of CEOs and high-ranking military personnel. Eights are intensely active, hard-driving individuals. Success is only meaningful to them after a job well-done.  They are remarkable in their ability to see the larger picture right down to the smallest details, and organize a strategy around success. They then have the ability to direct a group around them toward any goal, and realize individual potential to get the most out of their team.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME GLORIA

The name Gloria appears sporadically on the American female naming charts in the late 1800s most likely popularized by a prolific serial writer named E.D.E.N. Southworth who wrote a novel called Gloria (1891). However, the name was largely influenced by the glamorous actress of the 1920s, Gloria Swanson. The name climbed into the Top 100 in 1922 and by 1925, Gloria was a Top 20 favorite. This name would remain on the Top 100 list until 1964. Every since the latter half of the 20th century, old Gloria saw her “glory” days wane from the spotlight. Today, the name is used very lightly, but she still holds firm to the charts despite her old-fashioned sensibility. In the 1960s and 70s, Gloria Steinem rose to the public eye as a women’s rights activist and who can forget Gloria, the feminist daughter from the groundbreaking TV series “All in the Family”. We can still hear Edith Bunker saying her name. Gloria has also inspired some famous songs by Van Morrison, Laura Branigan and U2. In many Spanish Catholic countries, the name is used in honor of Our Lady of Glory (Maria Gloria). For those parents who like the “old lady” names with antique charm, but shudder at the overuse of names like Olivia and Emma, Gloria might be a name to consider. It’s soft and pretty with a “glorious” etymology.

Quick Facts

ON GLORIA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

525

PRONUNCIATION:

GLAWR-ee-ə

SIMPLE MEANING:

Glory

Characteristics

OF GLORIA

Authoritative

Powerful

Tough

Tenacious

Wealthy

Problem-solver

Achiever

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Gloria

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME GLORIA

Gloria is a character in George Bernard Shaw’s light comedy, You Never Can Tell, written in 1897. She is an idealistic “new woman” who has been raised by her feminist mother to be a modern woman in all ways. When the dentist, Valentine, woos her, she proclaims herself to be uninterested in such an old fashioned subject. Why, she is emancipated, she is of a scientific bent, she is a forward looking humanist. For all that, she is also a pretty young woman who falls victim to Valentine’s charms in obeisance to the natural drive of the Life Force that Shaw so respects. After much sparring and misunderstandings, the happy couple is engaged at play’s end and we assume procreation of the species will endure.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME GLORIA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Gloria


Popular Songs

ON GLORIA

¡Viva La Gloria!
a song by Green Day

¿Viva La Gloria? [Little Girl]
a song by Green Day

Gloria
a song by Manhattan Transfer

Hark The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria
Mariah Carey

La Gloria
a song by Erasure

La Gloria Eres Tú
a song by Luis Miguel

Marigold/Gloria Swansong
a song by The Hollies

Famous People

NAMED GLORIA

Gloria Estefan (musician)
Gloria Swanson (actress)
Gloria Steinem (writer)
Gloria Gaynor (singer)
Gloria Allred (attorney)
Gloria Grahame (actress)
Gloria Stuart (actress)
Gloria Estefan (musician)
Gloria Swanson (actress)
Gloria Steinem (writer)
Gloria Gaynor (singer)
Gloria Allred (attorney)
Gloria Grahame (actress)
Gloria Stuart (actress)
Gloria Estefan (musician)
Gloria Swanson (actress)
Gloria Steinem (writer)
Gloria Gaynor (singer)
Gloria Allred (attorney)
Gloria Grahame (actress)
Gloria Stuart (actress)

Children of Famous People

NAMED GLORIA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Gloria

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME GLORIA

Gloria Swanson was one of the greats of the silent screen who made a relatively successful segue into “talkies”. Born in Chicago of Polish and Swedish descent, Gloria made herself into an early “glamour girl” in the movies, with her exotic dark looks and fantastic fashion style. She married six times, but is probably best remembered in that department for her long term liaison with Joseph P. Kennedy. The father of the future president, Kennedy became a business partner of Gloria’s, producing a forgettable flop, Queen Kelly, and leaving her in precarious financial straits. Not to worry – our Gloria had the gift of self-reinvention. When her movie career wasn’t exactly skyrocketing, she made a splash by writing, designing and appearing in numerous television, stage and radio productions. Her most memorable role was that of Norma Desmond in 1950’s Sunset Boulevard, in which she played a delusional, faded and aging former silent movies star in love with a young screenwriter. Art imitating life, or something of that nature. In the late 1920’s, Gloria Swanson became one of the first enthusiastic vegetarians, expounding on the joys of natural, organic eating, bringing her own food to restaurants, and, in general, making a case for a healthy lifestyle well in advance of the current craze. An adherent of yoga, Ms. Swanson was cheerfully standing on her head in her eighties. What a gal! In fact, what a “glorious” gal!