Phenicia
Of Greek origin, a feminine name meaning "reddish-purple" or "crimson".
Name Census estimates that about 24 living Americans carry the first name Phenicia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Phenicia today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Phenicia births was 1981 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Phenicia. 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 Phenicia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
24
~ 1 in 14,281,431 Americans
Peak year
1981
6 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1993 SSA rank
#15,131
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Phenicia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Phenicia from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Phenicia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Phenicia 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 Phenicia 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 Phenicia
The name Phenicia is a relatively obscure one, with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have roots in the ancient Phoenician civilization, which flourished in the coastal regions of what is now Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The Phoenicians were renowned seafarers and traders, and their influence extended across the Mediterranean region.
Some scholars suggest that the name Phenicia may be derived from the Greek word "Phoinikē," which means "purple" or "crimson." This could be a reference to the highly prized purple dye produced by the Phoenicians from the murex shellfish. Alternatively, the name may be linked to the word "phoenix," the mythical bird associated with rebirth and renewal in ancient Greek mythology.
Historical records mentioning individuals named Phenicia are scarce, but there are a few notable examples. One of the earliest known references is found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned a Phoenician woman named Phenicia from the city of Tyre. However, details about her life and significance are limited.
In the Middle Ages, a Benedictine nun named Phenicia is recorded as having lived in the 9th century. She is said to have been a member of a religious community in what is now modern-day France, but little else is known about her life or accomplishments.
During the Renaissance period, a Venetian artist named Phenicia Zampieri (c. 1550-1620) gained recognition for her portraits and religious paintings. Her works can still be found in various churches and museums across Italy.
In the 19th century, a Brazilian writer and poet named Phenicia Borges (1822-1895) made her mark with her lyrical works that celebrated the natural beauty of her homeland. Her poetry collections were widely celebrated and helped to establish her as a prominent figure in Brazilian literature.
Another notable figure was Phenicia Saunders (1892-1972), an American educator and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to advocating for equal rights and educational opportunities for African Americans, particularly in the segregated South.
While the name Phenicia may be relatively uncommon, these individuals demonstrate its enduring presence throughout history, spanning different cultures and eras. Despite its obscure origins, the name has left its mark on various fields, from art and literature to activism and education.
People
Phenicia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Phenicia 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
Phenicia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Phenicia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 24 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Phenicia 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 14,281,431 US residents.
Is Phenicia a common name?
We classify Phenicia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Phenicia most popular?
The single biggest year for Phenicia was 1981, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Phenicia is about 44 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 Phenicia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Phenicia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Phenicia 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 Phenicia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Phenicia 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 Phenicia 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 Americans are named Phenicia?
You can see how many Americans are named Phenicia on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.