Osia
Diminutive Hebrew name meaning "God's help" or "God's salvation".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Osia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Osia today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Osia births was 1920 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Osia. 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
- • The typical person named Osia is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Osias were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Osia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1920
8 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1951 SSA rank
#6,012
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Osia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Osia from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Osia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Osia 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 Osia 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 Osia
The name Osia has its origins in the Greek language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word "osios," which means "holy" or "sacred." This connection suggests that the name may have held religious or spiritual significance in its early usage.
One of the earliest known references to the name Osia can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 428 BC to 348 BC. In his dialogues, Plato mentions a character named Osia, though little is known about the specific context or details surrounding this individual.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century, the name Osia gained popularity among Greek Orthodox Christians. It was often bestowed upon individuals who dedicated their lives to religious service or demonstrated exceptional piety. Historical records from this period mention several notable figures bearing the name Osia.
One such figure was Osia of Cordova, a Christian martyr who lived in the 9th century in the Iberian Peninsula, then under Moorish rule. Osia was executed for refusing to renounce her faith, and her story became an inspiration for many within the Christian community.
Another notable figure was Osia of Kiev, a Russian princess who lived in the 11th century. She was known for her devotion to the Orthodox faith and her charitable works, establishing several monasteries and churches throughout the region.
In the Byzantine Empire, the name Osia was also associated with royalty and nobility. One example is Osia Palaiologina, a princess of the Palaiologos dynasty who lived in the 14th century. She played a significant role in the political and religious affairs of the Empire during her lifetime.
As the Greek language and culture spread throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond, the name Osia also found its way into other cultures and traditions. In some cases, it was adapted or transliterated to fit the local language and customs, resulting in variations such as Ossia or Osya.
While the name Osia may not be as prevalent in modern times, its historical significance and associations with holiness, devotion, and nobility remain an integral part of its rich cultural heritage.
People
Osia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Osia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Osia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Osia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Osia 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Osia a common name?
We classify Osia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Osia most popular?
The single biggest year for Osia was 1920, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Osia is about 79 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 Osia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Osia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Osia 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 Osia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Osia 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 Osia 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 share the name Osia?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.