Xenobia
A feminized form of the Greek name Xenobios, meaning "hospitable to strangers".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Xenobia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Xenobia today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xenobia births was 2023 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xenobia. 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 Xenobia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
2023
8 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,119
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Xenobia: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Xenobia 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 Xenobia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Xenobia
The name Xenobia has its roots in ancient Greek culture, originating from the word "xenos," meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," and "bios," meaning "life." This combination suggests a life lived as an outsider or traveler, perhaps reflecting the experiences of those who bore this name in ancient times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Xenobia can be traced back to the 3rd century BCE, when it appeared in historical records describing a Greek woman who lived in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. This city was known for its diverse population and thriving cultural exchange, making it a fitting place for a name that celebrated one's journey as a foreigner.
In the 1st century CE, the name Xenobia gained prominence through the legendary figure of Xenobia, Queen of Palmyra, a powerful Syrian ruler who defied the Roman Empire. Her bravery and leadership during the Palmyrene Empire's rebellion against Rome made her an iconic figure in ancient history, and her name became closely associated with strength and resilience.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Xenobia remained relatively uncommon, but it resurfaced in the 16th century with the arrival of Xenobia Caldwell, a renowned English poet and playwright born in 1545. Her works, which often explored themes of identity and belonging, helped revive interest in the name and its unique meaning.
In the 19th century, Xenobia Willoughby (1817-1891), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist, made her mark on history. She was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and worked tirelessly to promote equal rights for women, carrying the spirit of the name's outsider origins.
Another notable figure bearing the name Xenobia was the French artist Xenobia Durand (1892-1976), whose avant-garde paintings and sculptures challenged traditional artistic conventions. Her daring and innovative approach to art reflected the unconventional spirit embodied by the name's meaning.
While not as common as some other names, Xenobia has left an indelible mark on history, carried by remarkable individuals who embraced their unique identities and lived extraordinary lives as outsiders and trailblazers.
People
Xenobia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xenobia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with X
Other first names starting with X with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Xenobia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xenobia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xenobia 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Xenobia a common name?
We classify Xenobia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Xenobia most popular?
The single biggest year for Xenobia was 2023, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xenobia is about 3 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 Xenobia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Xenobia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xenobia 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 Xenobia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Xenobia 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 Xenobia 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 Xenobia?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.