Relia
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from "reliable".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Relia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Relia today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Relia births was 1919 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Relia. 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 Relia is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Relias were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Relia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1919
10 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1948 SSA rank
#5,134
Tracked since 1907
Popularity
Relia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Relia from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Relia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Relia 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 Relia 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 Relia
The name Relia is believed to have originated from the Latin word "religio," which means "reverence" or "religion." It is a feminine name that has been in use for centuries, primarily in regions with strong Latin or Roman influences.
In ancient Rome, the concept of "religio" held great significance, as it encompassed the reverence and worship of deities, as well as the adherence to sacred rituals and traditions. The name Relia may have been given to girls born into families with strong religious or spiritual beliefs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Relia can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who lived from around 56 AD to 120 AD. In his work "Annals," he mentions a woman named Relia, though little is known about her life and circumstances.
During the Middle Ages, the name Relia was relatively uncommon, but it experienced a resurgence in popularity during the Renaissance period. This was likely due to the renewed interest in classical Latin literature and culture.
One notable figure from this era was Relia Caraffa, an Italian noblewoman who lived from 1472 to 1521. She was a member of the prestigious Caraffa family and was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of the Catholic Church.
In the 17th century, Relia Velazquez, a Spanish painter, gained recognition for her portraits and religious works. She was born in 1602 and is considered one of the few female artists of her time to achieve significant recognition.
Another historical figure with the name Relia was Relia Avila, a Mexican poet and activist who lived from 1884 to 1958. She was a prominent figure in the Mexican Revolution and used her poetry to advocate for social justice and women's rights.
In the 20th century, Relia Losada was a Cuban writer and journalist who was born in 1927. She wrote extensively on topics related to Cuban culture, history, and politics, and her work played a significant role in preserving and promoting the island's cultural heritage.
While the name Relia has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, each leaving their mark on the world in their own unique way.
People
Relia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Relia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Relia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Relia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Relia 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Relia a common name?
We classify Relia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 27 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Relia most popular?
The single biggest year for Relia was 1919, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Relia is about 71 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 Relia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Relia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Relia 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 Relia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Relia 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 Relia 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 are called Relia?
You can see how many Americans are named Relia on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.