Antwian
An African-American variant of Antoine, meaning highly praiseworthy or priceless.
Name Census estimates that about 67 living Americans carry the first name Antwian. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Antwian today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Antwian births was 1979 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Antwian. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Antwian. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
67
~ 1 in 5,115,736 Americans
Peak year
1979
11 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1995 SSA rank
#7,846
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Antwian: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Antwian from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 34 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Antwian remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Antwian 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 Antwian during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Antwian
The name Antwian is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its roots in antiquity. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Greek language, where the prefix "ant-" was derived from the word "anti," meaning "against" or "opposite." This prefix was often combined with other words to create new terms or names.
One theory suggests that Antwian may have been derived from the Greek word "anthos," meaning "flower" or "blossom." This interpretation could indicate that the name symbolized beauty, grace, or a connection to nature. Another possible etymology links Antwian to the Greek word "anthos," meaning "opposite" or "contrary," perhaps signifying a person with a strong or contrarian spirit.
In the annals of history, the name Antwian has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to the 5th century BC, when an Athenian playwright named Antwian the Elder wrote a series of tragedies that were widely acclaimed in ancient Greece. Unfortunately, none of his works have survived to modern times.
During the Byzantine era, an influential theologian and scholar named Antwian of Constantinople (c. 500-570 AD) made significant contributions to the study of early Christian doctrine. His writings and teachings were highly regarded within the Eastern Orthodox Church, and his legacy has endured for centuries.
In the realm of literature, Antwian Marcellus (1620-1678) was a renowned Italian poet and playwright who gained fame for his lyrical verses and theatrical works. His most celebrated piece, "The Triumph of Love," was widely performed throughout Europe and has inspired numerous adaptations and translations.
The 19th century saw the rise of Antwian Delacroix (1798-1863), a French Romantic painter renowned for his vivid depictions of historical and literary scenes. His masterpiece, "Liberty Leading the People," has become an iconic symbol of the French Revolution and is widely regarded as one of the most influential works of Western art.
More recently, Antwian Masiye (1923-2001) was a prominent Zambian politician and activist who played a crucial role in his country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He served as the first Vice-President of Zambia and was a vocal advocate for human rights and social justice throughout his career.
These are just a few examples of the remarkable individuals who have borne the name Antwian throughout history. While its precise origins may be shrouded in mystery, this unique moniker has left an indelible mark across various cultures and disciplines, serving as a testament to the enduring power of names and their ability to shape and influence human experiences.
People
Antwian + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Antwian 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
Antwian: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Antwian?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 67 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Antwian 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 5,115,736 US residents.
Is Antwian a common name?
We classify Antwian as "Very Rare". It ranks above 58.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 70 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Antwian most popular?
The single biggest year for Antwian was 1979, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Antwian is about 42 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 Antwian in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Antwian a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Antwian 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 Antwian still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Antwian 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 Antwian 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 common is the name Antwian?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.