Legina
A feminine name possibly derived from Regina, meaning "queen" or "sovereign".
Name Census estimates that about 38 living Americans carry the first name Legina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Legina today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Legina births was 1970 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Legina. 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 Legina. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
38
~ 1 in 9,019,851 Americans
Peak year
1970
11 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
1980 SSA rank
#9,752
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Legina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Legina from the 1960s through to the 1980s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 27 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
Legina 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 Legina 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 Legina
The given name Legina has its roots in ancient Latin, originating as a feminine variant of the name Leginus. This name traces back to the Latin word "legio," meaning "legion" or "military unit." The earliest recorded use of Legina dates back to the 2nd century AD, during the height of the Roman Empire.
In its earliest form, Legina was predominantly found within Roman military families, often bestowed upon daughters born to high-ranking officers or soldiers. The name carried connotations of strength, valor, and loyalty – values highly esteemed within the Roman legions.
As the Roman Empire expanded, the name Legina gradually spread across Europe, particularly in regions under Roman influence. It gained popularity among noble families and the upper echelons of society, who sought to associate themselves with the prestige and power of the Roman military.
One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name Legina was a Roman noblewoman from the 3rd century AD. Known for her unwavering devotion to her faith, she was canonized by the Catholic Church and is revered as Saint Legina of Trier.
During the Middle Ages, the name Legina experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly within Christian communities. It was often chosen for its perceived connection to the Latin word "legere," meaning "to read" or "to study," reflecting the value placed on education and learning within the Church.
A prominent figure from this period was Legina of Burgundy (1033-1076), a French noblewoman and abbess of the prestigious Remiremont Abbey. Her legacy as a patron of the arts and a skilled administrator inspired many to adopt her name.
In the Renaissance era, the name Legina found favor among humanist scholars and artists, drawn to its classical Roman roots. One such individual was Legina Lanzi (1510-1587), an Italian painter renowned for her vibrant depictions of religious scenes.
As the world entered the modern era, the name Legina continued to be used, though its popularity waned in comparison to more contemporary names. Nevertheless, it left an indelible mark on history, with notable figures such as Legina Guerrero (1768-1824), a Venezuelan independence activist and revolutionary leader, carrying on its legacy.
While not as prevalent today, the name Legina endures as a reminder of its rich historical heritage, spanning from the might of the Roman legions to the scholarly pursuits of the Middle Ages and the artistic achievements of the Renaissance.
People
Legina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Legina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Legina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Legina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 38 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Legina 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 9,019,851 US residents.
Is Legina a common name?
We classify Legina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 50.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Legina most popular?
The single biggest year for Legina was 1970, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Legina is about 54 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 Legina in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Legina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Legina 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 Legina still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Legina 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 Legina 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 many people have the name Legina?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.