Telia
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially related to Earth.
Name Census estimates that about 652 living Americans carry the first name Telia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Telia today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Telia births was 1984 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Telia. 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
652
~ 1 in 525,697 Americans
Peak year
1984
34 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2023 SSA rank
#17,366
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Telia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Telia from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 173 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Telia 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 Telia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Telias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Telia
The name Telia has its roots in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "telos," which means "end" or "goal." This name gained popularity during the classical period, particularly in Athens and other prominent city-states of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Telia can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He mentions a woman named Telia who lived in the 5th century BCE and was known for her exceptional wisdom and eloquence.
In Greek mythology, Telia was also the name of a nymph associated with the goddess Artemis. She was said to be a skilled huntress and protector of the natural world, embodying the values of strength and resilience.
During the Hellenistic period, which spanned from the 4th to the 1st century BCE, the name Telia gained further recognition. One notable figure from this era was Telia of Cyzicus, a philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of geometry.
As the Roman Empire rose to power and absorbed Greek culture, the name Telia found its way into Roman society. One prominent Roman bearing this name was Telia Arria, a noblewoman who lived during the 1st century CE and was renowned for her unwavering loyalty and bravery in the face of adversity.
In the Byzantine Empire, which emerged from the remnants of the Roman Empire in the 4th century CE, the name Telia continued to be used. One notable figure was Telia Kantakouzene, a princess and scholar who lived in the 14th century and was celebrated for her patronage of the arts and education.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have carried the name Telia:
1. Telia of Sparta (5th century BCE): A Spartan warrior known for her valor in battle.
2. Telia of Thessaly (3rd century BCE): A renowned physician and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.
3. Telia of Alexandria (1st century BCE): A celebrated poet and playwright whose works have been lost to time.
4. Telia of Antioch (3rd century CE): A Christian martyr who faced persecution for her faith.
5. Telia of Constantinople (6th century CE): A prominent Byzantine architect who designed several churches and public buildings.
While the name Telia may not be as common in modern times, it carries a rich historical legacy, connecting it to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, as well as the Byzantine Empire. Its meaning and associations with wisdom, resilience, and strength have endured throughout the centuries.
People
Telia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Telia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Telia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Telia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 652 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Telia 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 525,697 US residents.
Is Telia a common name?
We classify Telia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 701 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Telia most popular?
The single biggest year for Telia was 1984, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Telia is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Telia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Telia 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.