Phaith
A variant spelling of Faith, denoting complete trust or confidence.
Name Census estimates that about 72 living Americans carry the first name Phaith. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Phaith today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Phaith births was 2012 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Phaith. 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 Phaith. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
72
~ 1 in 4,760,477 Americans
Peak year
2012
10 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,125
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Phaith: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Phaith from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 43 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Phaith remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Phaith 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 Phaith 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 Phaith
The name Phaith is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its origins rooted in ancient cultures and belief systems. It is believed to have derived from the Greek word "phainein," which means "to bring to light" or "to make visible." This linguistic connection suggests that the name Phaith may have been associated with illumination, enlightenment, or a profound understanding of the world's mysteries.
In the annals of history, the name Phaith can be traced back to the era of classical antiquity, where it was occasionally referenced in philosophical and religious texts. Some scholars speculate that the name may have held special significance within certain esoteric or mystical traditions, although concrete evidence of its usage remains elusive.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Phaith was a renowned philosopher and scholar who lived in the 4th century BCE. Phaith of Cyrene was a follower of Plato and a respected teacher in her own right, renowned for her contributions to the fields of ethics and metaphysics.
During the Middle Ages, the name Phaith resurfaced in various monastic orders and religious communities. One notable figure was Phaith of Clairvaux, a 12th-century Cistercian nun and mystic who was revered for her profound spiritual writings and her dedication to contemplative life.
In the Renaissance era, the name Phaith gained a more secular connotation, often associated with the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. Phaith Bellerose, a 16th-century French painter and illustrator, was celebrated for her exquisite illuminated manuscripts and her innovative use of color and light.
As the world entered the modern era, the name Phaith continued to be borne by individuals who left their mark on various fields. Phaith Everhart, a 19th-century American botanist and naturalist, made significant contributions to the study of plant species native to the western United States.
In more recent times, Phaith Winters, born in 1945, was a celebrated author and poet whose works explored themes of spirituality, self-discovery, and the human experience. Her poetic compositions were widely acclaimed for their depth and emotional resonance.
While the name Phaith may not be as common as some other monikers, its rich history and multifaceted meanings have endured throughout the ages, making it a unique and intriguing choice for those seeking a name that embodies enlightenment, understanding, and a profound connection to the world around us.
People
Phaith + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Phaith as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Phaith: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Phaith?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 72 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Phaith 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 4,760,477 US residents.
Is Phaith a common name?
We classify Phaith as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 73 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Phaith most popular?
The single biggest year for Phaith was 2012, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Phaith is about 11 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 Phaith in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Phaith a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Phaith 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 Phaith still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Phaith 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 Phaith 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 common is the name Phaith?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.