Letizia
A feminine Latin name meaning "joy" or "gladness".
Name Census estimates that about 427 living Americans carry the first name Letizia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Letizia today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Letizia births was 2004 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Letizia. 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
427
~ 1 in 802,703 Americans
Peak year
2004
21 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,698
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Letizia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Letizia from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 120 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Letizia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Letizia 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 Letizia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Letizias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Letizia
The name Letizia has its origins in the Italian language and culture. It is a feminine given name derived from the Latin word "laetitia," which means joy or happiness. The name first appeared in ancient Roman times, as evidenced by its use in texts and inscriptions from that era.
In the early centuries of Christianity, Letizia was sometimes used as a name for Christian women, reflecting the idea of joy and spiritual contentment associated with the faith. One of the earliest known examples is Saint Letizia, a 3rd-century Roman martyr who was executed for her Christian beliefs during the persecution under the Roman emperor Aurelian.
During the Middle Ages, the name Letizia was relatively uncommon in most parts of Europe, but it maintained some presence in Italy, particularly in the central and southern regions. Historical records from this period mention a few notable individuals bearing the name, including Letizia di Ravenna, a 12th-century Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts.
The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of interest in classical Roman culture and names, contributing to a rise in popularity for Letizia. One of the most famous historical figures with this name was Letizia Ramolino (1750-1836), the mother of Napoleon Bonaparte. Her maternal influence and guidance played a crucial role in shaping the future emperor's life and ambitions.
Another notable Letizia from Italian history was Letizia Maria Amalfitani (1819-1876), a renowned Neapolitan educator and advocate for women's education. She founded several schools and educational institutions in Naples and was widely respected for her progressive views on education and women's rights.
In the 20th century, Letizia continued to be a popular name in Italy, with several notable individuals bearing it. These include Letizia Paoli (1905-1987), an Italian actress and opera singer, and Letizia Battaglia (1935-2022), a renowned photojournalist and activist known for her powerful documentation of the Sicilian Mafia's activities.
People
Letizia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Letizia 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
Letizia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Letizia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 427 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Letizia 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 802,703 US residents.
Is Letizia a common name?
We classify Letizia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 495 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Letizia most popular?
The single biggest year for Letizia was 2004, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Letizia is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Letizia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Letizia 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.