Algia
A feminine name derived from Greek meaning "pain" or "ache".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Algia. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 55.8% of registrations being male. The average person named Algia today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Algia births was 1919 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Algia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Algia is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Algias were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Algia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1919
12 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1959 SSA rank
#2,928
Tracked since 1909
Gender
Gender distribution for Algia
Algia is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 104 total registrations, 58 (55.8%) were male and 46 (44.2%) were female.
Algia as a male name
- Ranked #4,000 in 1959
- 5 male births in 1959
- Peak: 1928 (9 births)
Algia as a female name
- Ranked #2,928 in 1935
- 9 female births in 1935
- Peak: 1917 (9 births)
Popularity
Algia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Algia from the 1900s through to the 1950s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 52 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Algia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Algia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Algias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Algia
The name Algia has its origins in the Greek language, derived from the word "algos," which means "pain" or "suffering." It emerged as a name during the classical period of ancient Greece, around the 5th century BCE.
In Greek mythology, Algia was a minor goddess associated with suffering and sorrow. She was often depicted alongside other deities connected to human emotions and experiences. However, the name itself was not widely used as a personal name during this time.
The earliest recorded instances of Algia as a given name can be found in some ancient Greek texts and inscriptions from the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century CE. These examples are relatively rare, indicating that the name was not particularly popular at the time.
One notable figure in history who bore the name Algia was a Byzantine princess who lived in the 11th century CE. She was the daughter of Emperor Constantine IX and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
During the Renaissance period, which lasted from the 14th to the 17th century, the name Algia gained some traction in certain parts of Europe, particularly in Italy and Greece. This was likely due to the renewed interest in classical Greek culture and literature during this time.
In the 18th century, a French philosopher and writer named Algia de Vitry gained recognition for her work on moral philosophy and ethics. She was born in 1725 and lived until 1799.
Another individual of note with the name Algia was Algia Pachia, a Greek poet and activist who lived from 1888 to 1964. She was a prominent figure in the Greek feminist movement and advocated for women's rights and education.
In the 20th century, Algia Adamopoulou, a Greek actress and singer, gained popularity for her roles in various theatrical productions and films. She was born in 1920 and passed away in 2007.
While the name Algia has its roots in ancient Greek culture and mythology, it has remained relatively uncommon throughout history. However, its unique origins and connection to concepts of pain and suffering have made it a distinctive and intriguing name choice for those seeking a name with a deeper historical significance.
People
Algia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Algia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Algia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Algia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Algia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Algia a common name?
We classify Algia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 104 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Algia most popular?
The single biggest year for Algia was 1919, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Algia is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Algia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Algia a male name?
Yes, 55.8% of people registered as Algia in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Algia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Algia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Algia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Algia?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.