Cynthia
Meaningfrom Mount Kynthos · Greek
- US rank
- #1,013
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #7 in 1957
247 babies were named Cynthia in the US in 2025. It has dropped 140 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Cynthia you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Cynthia
Cynthia Nixon
American actress and politician
Choose Cynthia and your child shares a first name with Cynthia Nixon, an American actress and politician. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Cynthia, like who?” Cynthia Nixon's Wikipedia article is available in 50 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Cynthia Nixon on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 6,506 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Cynthia, 247 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Cynthia would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryCynthia has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Cynthias, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1957, when it ranked #7. Today it's #1,013, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowCynthia was 7.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 891 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 6,506.
- TrendCynthia has slipped 140 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,013. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedCynthia is most popular in Wisconsin, where it ranks #484, followed by Utah (#605) and Indiana (#651). It's in the top 1,000 in 11 states.
- MeaningIn Greek, Cynthia means “from Mount Kynthos”. Our records link it to Greek and Spanish roots.
About the name Cynthia
Cynthia is a girl name of Greek and Spanish origin meaning “from Mount Kynthos”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-hia”. US birth records list Cynthia for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1957, when it ranked #7 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #1,013, with 247 babies.
Origin:Greek namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 460 | 2,173 girls |
| 1890s | 319 | 3,131 girls |
| 1900s | 239 | 4,186 girls |
| 1910s | 238 | 4,206 girls |
| 1920s | 308 | 3,247 girls |
| 1930s | 906 | 1,104 girls |
| 1940s | 3,704 | 270 girls |
| 1950s | 13,537 | 74 girls |
| 1960s | 10,649 | 94 girls |
| 1970s | 5,148 | 194 girls |
| 1980s | 2,435 | 411 girls |
| 1990s | 1,735 | 577 girls |
| 2000s | 824 | 1,213 girls |
| 2010s | 339 | 2,953 girls |
| 2020s | 191 | 5,247 girls |
More Greek girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Aurora · dawn
- Girl name: Penelope · possibly weaver
- Girl name: Chloe · green shoot
- Girl name: Ellie · possibly light
- Girl name: Aria · solo melody
- Girl name: Ella · possibly all, entirely
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
Questions about the name Cynthia
What does the name Cynthia mean?
Cynthia means “from Mount Kynthos” in Greek.
What is the origin of the name Cynthia?
Cynthia has Greek, Spanish roots in our records. Other Greek names include Eleanor, Aurora, Penelope.
Is Cynthia a boy or girl name?
Cynthia is a girl name.
How popular is the name Cynthia?
Cynthia ranked #1,013 for US girls in 2025, given to 247 babies. Its best year was 1957 (#7).