Xilena
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "companion of the woods".
Name Census estimates that about 28 living Americans carry the first name Xilena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Xilena today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xilena births was 2023 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xilena. 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 Xilena. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
28
~ 1 in 12,241,226 Americans
Peak year
2023
11 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,201
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Xilena: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Xilena 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 Xilena 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 | 28 | 28 |
Geography
Where Xilenas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Xilena
The given name Xilena is believed to have originated from the Greek language, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Greek civilization that flourished around the 8th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "xylon," meaning "wood" or "timber." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with professions or activities related to woodworking or forestry in its early usage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Xilena can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BCE. In his historical accounts, he mentioned a woman named Xilena, who was a skilled carpenter and participated in the construction of temples and other buildings in the city-state of Athens.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century CE, the name Xilena gained popularity among Greek-speaking communities. It is documented in several religious texts and chronicles from that time period. One notable figure bearing this name was Xilena of Thessaloniki, a nun who lived in the 9th century CE and was renowned for her piety and devotion to the Orthodox Christian faith.
In the 12th century CE, a woman named Xilena was recorded as one of the first female physicians in the Byzantine Empire. She practiced medicine in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and was respected for her expertise in treating various ailments.
As the Greek language and culture spread throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond, the name Xilena found its way into other cultures and languages. In the 16th century, a Spanish explorer named Xilena de Montañez was among the first European women to travel to the Americas. She accompanied her husband on expeditions to the Caribbean and is mentioned in historical records for her bravery and resilience during those voyages.
Another notable figure with the name Xilena was Xilena Manfredi, an Italian painter who lived in the 17th century. She was renowned for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, and her works can still be found in several art galleries across Italy.
While the name Xilena may not be as common today as it once was, it carries a rich historical legacy that spans centuries and cultures. Its connection to woodworking, medicine, and exploration reflects the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name throughout history.
People
Xilena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xilena 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
Xilena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xilena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 28 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xilena 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 12,241,226 US residents.
Is Xilena a common name?
We classify Xilena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 45.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 28 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Xilena most popular?
The single biggest year for Xilena was 2023, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xilena 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 Xilena in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Xilena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xilena 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 Xilena still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Xilena 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 Xilena 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 have the name Xilena?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Xilena, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.