Find out how popular the first name Portia has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Portia by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Portia is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Portia being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 15 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Portia.

The history of the first name Portia

The name Portia originated from the Latin word "portius," which means "of the port." This suggests that the name may have been derived from an occupation or location related to ports or harbors in ancient Rome. The name gained prominence during the Roman Republic and Empire periods.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Portia can be found in the writings of ancient Roman historian Plutarch, who mentioned a woman named Portia, the wife of Marcus Junius Brutus, a Roman politician and one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. Portia lived from around 70 BC to 42 BC.

In William Shakespeare's famous play "The Merchant of Venice," written around 1596-1597, one of the main characters is a wealthy heiress named Portia. This literary reference helped popularize the name in English-speaking cultures.

Another notable Portia from history was Portia Wills Woodson (1875-1962), an American educator and activist who advocated for equal educational opportunities for African American children. She founded the Portia Washington Woodson School in Arkansas in 1924.

In the 19th century, Portia Agar (1828-1887) was a British artist and sculptor who exhibited her works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. She is known for her sculptures depicting scenes from literature and mythology.

Portia Simpson Miller (born 1945) is a Jamaican politician who served as the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in Jamaica.

While the name Portia has Roman origins, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, often associated with strong, influential, and accomplished women throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Portia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Portia, please contact us.

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