Porshay
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Porsha.
Name Census estimates that about 41 living Americans carry the first name Porshay. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Porshay today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Porshay births was 1992 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Porshay. 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 Porshay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
41
~ 1 in 8,359,862 Americans
Peak year
1992
14 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2000 SSA rank
#16,928
Tracked since 1988
Popularity
Porshay: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Porshay from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 31 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Porshay 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 Porshay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Porshays live
Origin
Meaning and history of Porshay
The name Porshay is believed to have its origins in the ancient Indian subcontinent, with roots that can be traced back to the Sanskrit language. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "porsha," which translates to "one who is prosperous" or "one who brings good fortune." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with the intention of blessing them with prosperity and abundance.
In the early centuries of the first millennium, the name Porshay found its way into various religious texts and scriptures of the Indian subcontinent. Scholars have discovered references to individuals bearing this name in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas. These early mentions indicate that the name held significant cultural and spiritual significance during that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Porshay can be found in the chronicles of the Mauryan Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in ancient India from around 321 BCE to 185 BCE. Historical accounts mention a prominent courtier named Porshay who served under the reign of the renowned emperor Ashoka, known for his efforts to spread Buddhist teachings across the region.
As the centuries passed, the name Porshay continued to be used across various parts of the Indian subcontinent, appearing in various literary works and historical records. Notably, a celebrated poet and scholar named Porshay Pandita lived during the 12th century CE in the region of modern-day Rajasthan. His works, which explored themes of spirituality and philosophy, are still studied and revered by scholars today.
During the medieval period, the name Porshay also gained recognition in parts of Central Asia, particularly in regions that were influenced by Persian and Islamic cultures. One notable figure was Porshay al-Din, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 13th century CE in the city of Bukhara, which was then part of the Persian-influenced Khwarezmian Empire.
In more recent times, the name Porshay has been carried by several individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Porshay Chandra Bose, an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the struggle for Indian independence from British rule in the early 20th century.
While the name Porshay may not be as common in modern times as it once was, its rich historical roots and cultural significance continue to resonate, particularly in regions with strong connections to the ancient Indian subcontinent and its diverse linguistic and cultural heritage.
People
Porshay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Porshay 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
Porshay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Porshay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 41 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Porshay 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 8,359,862 US residents.
Is Porshay a common name?
We classify Porshay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 42 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Porshay most popular?
The single biggest year for Porshay was 1992, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Porshay is about 33 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 Porshay in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Porshay a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Porshay 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 Porshay still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Porshay 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 Porshay 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 Porshay?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.