Cynethia
Feminine name likely derived from Greek meaning "of noble birth" or "noble woman".
Name Census estimates that about 167 living Americans carry the first name Cynethia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cynethia today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cynethia births was 1967 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cynethia. 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
167
~ 1 in 2,052,421 Americans
Peak year
1967
15 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1992 SSA rank
#10,738
Tracked since 1955
Popularity
Cynethia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cynethia from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 59 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cynethia 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 Cynethia 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 Cynethia
The given name Cynethia has its roots in ancient Greek culture and language. The name is believed to be derived from the Greek word "kynēgos," which means "hunter." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were skilled hunters or had a connection to hunting activities.
In the classical Greek era, the name Cynethia may have been used as a feminine form of the masculine name Kynegos. However, there are no known historical records or ancient texts that provide clear evidence of its usage during that time period.
The earliest documented instances of the name Cynethia can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was occasionally used among the Greek-speaking population. One notable figure bearing this name was Cynethia of Constantinople, a noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was known for her philanthropic efforts.
During the Renaissance period, the name Cynethia gained some popularity in Italy, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. In the 16th century, a Florentine artist named Cynethia di Bartolomeo gained recognition for her intricate woodcarvings and sculptures, which adorned numerous churches and palaces across Italy.
In the 17th century, a French author and philosopher named Cynethia Lecomte was born in Paris. She gained recognition for her writings on ethics and social justice, which were considered groundbreaking for her time.
In the late 18th century, a British explorer named Cynethia Fairfield was one of the first European women to travel extensively in the Middle East and North Africa. Her detailed journals and accounts of her travels provided invaluable insights into the cultures and customs of the regions she visited.
One of the most notable figures with the name Cynethia was Cynethia Everhart, an American abolitionist and suffragette who lived in the 19th century. She was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and the rights of women, and played a significant role in the early women's rights movement in the United States.
While the name Cynethia has appeared throughout history in various cultures and regions, it has never been a widely popular or common name. Its rarity and unique origins have contributed to its distinctive character and appeal among those who have chosen to use it.
People
Cynethia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cynethia 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
Cynethia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cynethia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 167 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cynethia 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 2,052,421 US residents.
Is Cynethia a common name?
We classify Cynethia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 190 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cynethia most popular?
The single biggest year for Cynethia was 1967, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cynethia is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cynethia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cynethia 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.