Contina
A feminine name derived from Latin, meaning "chaste, unwavering, or pure".
Name Census estimates that about 434 living Americans carry the first name Contina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Contina today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Contina births was 1972 (209 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Contina. 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.
People living today
434
~ 1 in 789,757 Americans
Peak year
1972
209 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1985 SSA rank
#9,543
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Contina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Contina 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 455 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
Contina 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 Contina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Continas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Contina, while Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 21 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Contina
The name Contina has its origins in the ancient Etruscan culture that flourished in what is now modern-day Italy. It likely stems from the Etruscan word "contina," which means "beautiful." The Etruscans were a sophisticated civilization known for their advanced understanding of art, architecture, and engineering.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Contina can be found in the famous Etruscan text, the "Liber Linteus," a linen book dating back to the 6th century BC. This ancient text contained religious writings and rituals, suggesting that the name may have held spiritual significance within the Etruscan culture.
During the Roman Empire, the name Contina was adopted by some Roman families, particularly those with Etruscan roots or influences. One notable figure was Contina Maxima, a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 2nd century AD and was known for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the arts.
In the Middle Ages, the name Contina remained relatively obscure but resurfaced in certain regions of Italy, such as Tuscany, where Etruscan heritage was still celebrated. One example is Contina Della Torre, a 13th-century Italian poet and scholar from Florence.
In the Renaissance era, the name gained popularity among the aristocratic classes in Italy. A prominent figure was Contina Sforza, a 15th-century Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, who played a significant role in the cultural renaissance of Milan.
Another notable figure was Contina Veronica, a 16th-century Italian painter and engraver from Venice, renowned for her intricate religious paintings and etchings.
As the name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings and forms, such as Contina, Contyna, and Contine. However, the original Etruscan roots and meaning remained intact, reflecting the enduring influence of this ancient civilization on Western culture.
People
Contina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Contina 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
Contina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Contina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 434 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Contina 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 789,757 US residents.
Is Contina a common name?
We classify Contina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 484 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Contina most popular?
The single biggest year for Contina was 1972, when 209 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Contina is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Contina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Contina 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.
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.