Cynia
A feminine name derived from Latin meaning "charming" or "artistic".
Name Census estimates that about 211 living Americans carry the first name Cynia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cynia today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cynia births was 2009 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cynia. 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
211
~ 1 in 1,624,428 Americans
Peak year
2009
27 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,532
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Cynia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cynia from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 126 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cynia 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 Cynia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cynias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Cynia
The name Cynia is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece, specifically in the region of Phocis, during the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "kynikos," which means "cynic" or "dog-like," referring to the Cynic philosophical movement founded by Antisthenes.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Cynia can be found in the writings of the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, a prominent figure of the Cynic movement. Diogenes is known for his ascetic lifestyle and his unconventional teachings, which emphasized self-control, rejection of material possessions, and living in harmony with nature.
Throughout history, the name Cynia has been associated with individuals who embodied the principles of the Cynic philosophy, such as simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a disdain for societal conventions. One notable figure was Cynia of Thessaly, a Cynic philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC and was known for her teachings on virtue and self-discipline.
In the 1st century AD, the Roman philosopher Epictetus, a former slave who became a renowned Stoic thinker, mentioned a Cynic named Cynia in his writings. Epictetus praised Cynia for her unwavering commitment to the Cynic way of life and her ability to live in accordance with nature.
During the Renaissance, the name Cynia gained some popularity among intellectuals and scholars who were drawn to the Cynic philosophical tradition. One such individual was Cynia Mariotti, an Italian humanist and philosopher who lived in the 15th century and was known for her writings on ethics and morality.
In more recent times, the name Cynia has been less common, but it has been carried by a few notable individuals, such as Cynia Green, an American author and poet born in 1935, who wrote extensively about nature and the human experience.
Overall, the name Cynia has a rich history rooted in the Cynic philosophical movement of ancient Greece, symbolizing a commitment to simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a rejection of societal norms. While not as widely used today, it remains a unique and meaningful name that carries a legacy of philosophical inquiry and a respect for nature.
People
Cynia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cynia 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
Cynia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cynia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 211 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cynia 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 1,624,428 US residents.
Is Cynia a common name?
We classify Cynia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 213 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cynia most popular?
The single biggest year for Cynia was 2009, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cynia is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cynia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cynia 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.