Candina
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially derived from the Latin "candor" meaning "shining or radiant".
Name Census estimates that about 40 living Americans carry the first name Candina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Candina today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Candina births was 1973 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Candina. 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 Candina. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
40
~ 1 in 8,568,858 Americans
Peak year
1973
9 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1980 SSA rank
#10,592
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Candina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Candina from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 39 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Candina 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 Candina 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 Candina
The given name Candina has its origins in ancient Latin, deriving from the word "candidus" which means "shining" or "glowing." This name likely emerged during the Roman era, although precise records of its earliest usage are scarce. It's believed that Candina was initially used as a feminine form of the masculine name Candidus.
In the 3rd century AD, there are records of a Roman woman named Candina who was a dedicated follower of the Christian faith. She is mentioned in the writings of Tertullian, an early Christian author, as a martyr who faced persecution for her beliefs. This early reference suggests that the name had already gained some popularity among early Christian communities.
During the Middle Ages, the name Candina seemed to have fallen out of widespread use, perhaps due to the decline of Latin as a commonly spoken language. However, it resurfaced in the Renaissance period, particularly in Italy, where it was occasionally given to newborn girls as a nod to the classical Roman heritage.
One notable figure in history who bore the name Candina was an Italian painter and miniaturist who lived in the 15th century. Candina Vitturi, born in Venice around 1430, was renowned for her intricate illuminated manuscripts and religious artwork. Her work can still be admired in various churches and museums across Italy.
In the 16th century, a Spanish noblewoman named Candina de Mendoza y Aragón played a significant role in the Spanish court. Born in 1540, she served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Isabella of Valois and was known for her intellect and diplomatic skills.
Another historical figure with the name Candina was a French writer and poet from the 17th century. Candina de La Vigne, born in 1625, was part of the literary circles of her time and published several volumes of poetry and prose. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
In the 19th century, Candina Pasolini was an Italian philanthropist and social reformer. Born in 1820 in Ravenna, she dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for women's rights. Her efforts earned her widespread recognition and respect within her community.
While the name Candina has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these notable individuals have carried the name across various cultural and historical contexts, each leaving their own unique mark on the world.
People
Candina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Candina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Candina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Candina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 40 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Candina 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 8,568,858 US residents.
Is Candina a common name?
We classify Candina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 44 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Candina most popular?
The single biggest year for Candina was 1973, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Candina is about 51 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 Candina in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Candina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Candina in the SSA data are female. 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 Candina still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Candina 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 Candina 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 Candina?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.