Pio
Derived from Italian, meaning "pious, reverent, or devout."
Name Census estimates that about 235 living Americans carry the first name Pio. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Pio today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pio births was 2020 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pio. 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
235
~ 1 in 1,458,529 Americans
Peak year
2020
16 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,125
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Pio: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pio from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 72 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pio 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 Pio during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pios live
Origin
Meaning and history of Pio
The name Pio has its origins in the Latin language and culture, dating back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "pius," which means "pious," "devout," or "dutiful." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were deeply religious or demonstrated a strong sense of devotion to their faith or duty.
In early Christianity, the name Pio gained significant prominence. One of the earliest and most notable individuals with this name was Pope Pius I, who served as the Bishop of Rome from around 140 to 155 AD. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, and his name has been borne by many subsequent popes throughout history.
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the name Pio continued to be used in various parts of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. It was often associated with individuals who had a strong religious or spiritual inclination, or who held positions of authority within the Church.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Pio was Pio Nono, better known as Pope Pius IX, who reigned from 1846 to 1878. He is notable for defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and for convening the First Vatican Council. Another prominent individual was Pio da Pietrelcina, also known as Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar and mystic who lived from 1887 to 1968 and is revered for his spiritual gifts and miraculous healings.
In the realm of literature, Pio Baroja (1872-1956) was a renowned Spanish novelist and essayist, known for his works that explored the social and political issues of his time. Additionally, Pio Pico (1801-1894) was a prominent Mexican-American politician and the last governor of Mexican California before it became a part of the United States.
The name Pio has also been used in various other cultures and languages, sometimes with slightly different spellings or pronunciations. For example, in Polish, the name is spelled as "Pius," while in Italian, it is commonly written as "Pio." However, the underlying meaning and connotations of the name remain consistent across these variations.
Overall, the name Pio has a rich historical and cultural significance, deeply rooted in religious and spiritual traditions. It has been borne by notable figures throughout history, from religious leaders and saints to writers and politicians, reflecting the diverse ways in which this name has been embraced and celebrated across different societies and eras.
People
Pio + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pio 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
Pio: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pio?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 235 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pio 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 1,458,529 US residents.
Is Pio a common name?
We classify Pio as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 333 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pio most popular?
The single biggest year for Pio was 2020, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pio is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pio a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pio in the SSA data are male. 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.