Bia first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Bia has been for the last 15 years (from 2009 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Bia

A feminine name of Portuguese origin, possibly a shortened form of Beatriz, meaning "one who brings happiness".

Popularity of Bia by gender

Based on the last 15 years of data, Bia is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bia.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 19
2022 0 18
2021 0 14
2020 0 13
2019 0 7
2018 0 6
2015 0 7
2009 0 5

The history of the first name Bia

The name Bia is derived from the Greek word "bios," meaning "life" or "way of living." It has its origins in ancient Greek culture and can be traced back to at least the 5th century BCE.

In Greek mythology, Bia was the personification of force, violence, and raw strength. She was one of the children of the primordial deities Pallas and Styx, and was often depicted alongside her siblings Cratos (strength) and Zelus (zeal) as companions of the god Ares, the god of war.

The earliest recorded use of the name Bia can be found in the writings of ancient Greek philosophers and dramatists, such as Aeschylus and Euripides, where it was used to refer to physical force or violence. It was also mentioned in Homer's Iliad as a personification of force.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Bia was Bia of Thasos, a famous Greek poetess who lived in the 6th century BCE. Her poetry was highly regarded in ancient times and was praised by authors like Antipater of Thessalonica.

Another prominent figure named Bia was Bia of Miletus, a Greek historian who lived in the 3rd century BCE. She wrote a historical work titled "On the Milesian War," which has unfortunately been lost to time.

In the Middle Ages, the name Bia was occasionally used as a variant of the name Beatrice, which was derived from the Latin "beatus," meaning "blessed." One notable bearer of this name was Bia de' Tolomei, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century and was known for her piety and charitable works.

During the Renaissance period, the name Bia was sometimes used as a shortened form of the Italian name Bianca, which means "white" or "fair." One notable figure with this name was Bia Sforza, an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts who lived in the 15th century.

In more recent times, the name Bia has been used in various cultures and languages, often as a diminutive or shortened form of other names, such as Beatriz or Bianca. However, its historical roots can be traced back to the ancient Greek concept of "bios" and its personification as the goddess Bia.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bia, please contact us.

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"Bia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 24, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/bia-meaning-and-history/.

"Bia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/bia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 24 May, 2025

Bia first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/bia-meaning-and-history/.

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