Placida
Placida is a feminine Latin name meaning "calm, peaceful, serene."
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Placida. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Placida today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Placida births was 1917 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Placida. 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 Placida is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Placidas were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Placida. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1917
13 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1955 SSA rank
#6,494
Tracked since 1899
Popularity
Placida: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Placida from the 1890s through to the 1950s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 66 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Placida 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 Placida during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Placidas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Placida
The name Placida originates from Latin and has its roots in the word "placidus," meaning "calm" or "peaceful." It was a relatively common name during the Roman era, particularly among the upper classes who valued tranquility and serenity.
In ancient Roman times, the name Placida was often bestowed upon daughters born into noble families, symbolizing the desired qualities of gentle temperament and composure. It gained popularity during the early Christian era, as many early Christians adopted names with positive connotations that reflected their values and beliefs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Placida can be found in the writings of the 4th-century Christian philosopher and theologian, St. Augustine. He mentions a woman named Placida in his work "City of God," though little is known about her life or significance.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Placida remained in use across various regions of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, where it retained its association with calmness and tranquility. Several notable figures bore this name, including Placida Doria (1499-1567), a Genoese noblewoman and patron of the arts, renowned for her philanthropic endeavors and support of artists and writers.
In the 16th century, the name Placida gained prominence with the birth of Placida Purliliana (1516-1580), an Italian poet and writer who authored several works on religious and moral themes. Her works were widely celebrated during her lifetime and contributed to the popularity of the name among the intellectual circles of Renaissance Italy.
Another prominent figure with the name Placida was Placida Hidalgo de Costilla (1766-1854), a Spanish-born settler in present-day New Mexico, who played a significant role in the region's history and cultural development. She is remembered for her leadership and efforts in establishing settlements and fostering trade and agriculture in the area.
During the 19th century, the name Placida was particularly popular in Spain, with several notable individuals bearing the name, including Placida Barril (1850-1929), a Spanish writer and educator who advocated for women's education and played a crucial role in establishing schools for girls in Madrid.
While the name Placida has not been as widely used in recent times, it continues to hold historical significance and remains a symbol of tranquility and gentle disposition, reflecting the values and cultural influences of its Latin origins.
People
Placida + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Placida 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
Placida: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Placida?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Placida 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Placida a common name?
We classify Placida as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 158 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Placida most popular?
The single biggest year for Placida was 1917, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Placida is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Placida a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Placida 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.