Xica
A feminine name of Portuguese origin meaning "charming" or "graceful".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Xica. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Xica today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xica births was 1982 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xica. 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 Xica. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1982
8 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
1982 SSA rank
#8,206
Tracked since 1982
Popularity
Xica: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Xica 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 Xica during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Xica
The name Xica originated from the Tupi language, spoken by indigenous peoples of Brazil. It is believed to have been derived from the Tupi word "xi'ka," meaning "young" or "new." The name likely emerged during the pre-Columbian era, before the arrival of European colonizers in South America.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Xica dates back to the 16th century, when it appeared in historical accounts of interactions between Portuguese settlers and the Tupi people. It was often used as a feminine name, reflecting the Tupi cultural tradition of naming children based on their perceived qualities or circumstances surrounding their birth.
Throughout the colonial period in Brazil, the name Xica gained popularity among both indigenous and mixed-race communities. It was embraced as a symbol of resilience and adaptation in the face of cultural upheaval and oppression.
In the 18th century, a notable figure named Xica da Silva (1734-1796) rose to prominence in the mining town of Diamantina, Brazil. She was a former enslaved woman who accumulated significant wealth and influence, challenging societal norms and becoming a prominent figure in the region's elite circles.
Another historical figure bearing the name Xica was Xica Manicongo (c. 1610-1664), a former queen of the Ndongo Kingdom in present-day Angola. She played a pivotal role in resisting Portuguese colonization and defending her people's sovereignty.
In the realm of literature, the name Xica gained recognition through the novel "Xica da Silva" by João Felício dos Santos, published in 1976. The book explored the life of the aforementioned figure from Diamantina and her impact on Brazilian society.
Outside of Brazil, the name Xica has been used sparingly, often as a variant or adaptation of other names. However, its origins and historical significance remain rooted in the Tupi culture of South America, serving as a testament to the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the region.
People
Xica + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xica 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
Xica: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xica?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xica 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Xica a common name?
We classify Xica as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% 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 Xica most popular?
The single biggest year for Xica was 1982, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xica is about 47 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 Xica in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Xica a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xica 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 Xica still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Xica 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 Xica 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 Americans are named Xica?
See how many Americans are named Xica on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.