Languages have long cycles. Python (1991), Ruby (1996), and Javascript (1995) inception dates are not that far apart. I also believe Python use has increased tremendously with HN, myself included. Ruby during the same time also fueled that (2005/6 ish), reddit being built on it possibly also sparked that.
A native language takes even longer sometimes, Objective-C just really hit it's stride with Apple/Next integration and the iPhone but it was made in 1983, same year as C++. Both with very different spikes/waves of interest.
From this we can see strict/native type languages in the 80's, more dynamic/scripted languages in the 90's, the ones in the last decade maybe are still in contention. All of them are pretty much products of their hardware environments at the time.
A native language takes even longer sometimes, Objective-C just really hit it's stride with Apple/Next integration and the iPhone but it was made in 1983, same year as C++. Both with very different spikes/waves of interest.
From this we can see strict/native type languages in the 80's, more dynamic/scripted languages in the 90's, the ones in the last decade maybe are still in contention. All of them are pretty much products of their hardware environments at the time.