Meaning:
Its source is a Latin expression meaning "Glory."
Languages:
This girl's name is used in English and Italian.
Alternative Spellings: Gloriah
Variant Forms: Gloriela and Glorisha
Non-English Forms: Slavko
Popularity:
The name Gloria ranked 386th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 56th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.
Narrative:
Though there were women in ancient Rome named Gloriosa, Gloria was not introduced as a name until 1898, when playwright George Bernard Shaw used it in his hit comedy You Never Can Tell.
Its popularity was furthered a few decades later by actress Gloria Swanson (1899-1983). Starting in silent pictures, she evolved into the prototype of the Hollywood star. Later in life she became a sculptor, and used her celebrity and her well-preserved looks to promote lifelong, healthy eating habits.
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