Cynthia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SIN-thia //ˈsɪnθiə//
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: 'moon'; Latin: 'from Kynthos'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cynthia has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the word 'Kynthia,' which refers to the goddess Artemis, who was born on Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos. The name was initially used as a poetic epithet for Artemis, symbolizing her connection to the moon and nature.
The transition of the name into Latin occurred as the Romans adopted Greek mythology, where 'Cynthia' became a common reference to the moon goddess, further solidifying its association with lunar imagery. The name entered the English language through the influence of Latin during the Renaissance, when classical names were revived and popularized in literature and culture.
Historically, the name Cynthia has been borne by various notable figures, including the English poet John Milton, who used it in his works during the 17th century. In his epic poem "Paradise Lost," published in 1667, Milton invokes the name Cynthia in relation to the moon, showcasing its literary significance.
Additionally, the name appears in the works of other poets and playwrights, reflecting its enduring presence in English literature. The 18th century saw further usage in poetry and drama, as writers continued to draw upon classical themes and figures.
Culturally, Cynthia has been associated with themes of beauty, femininity, and the celestial, often symbolizing the moon's gentle and nurturing qualities. This connection to the moon has made the name resonate in various artistic and literary contexts, reinforcing its appeal across generations.
The diminutive form 'Cindy' emerged in later centuries, becoming a familiar variant, though the original form 'Cynthia' retains its classical elegance and historical depth. Overall, the name's journey from ancient Greece to modern English encapsulates a rich tapestry of mythological and literary significance.
Famous people named Cynthia
In this section, you will find notable people named Cynthia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cynthia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cynthia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Cynthia Erivo is an actress and singer best known for Harriet, The Color Purple, and Widows.
Cynthia Bailey is a model and television personality best known for The Real Housewives of Atlanta and her modeling career.
Cynthia Rothrock is a martial artist and actress best known for China O'Brien, Righting Wrongs, and Martial Law.
Cynthia Stevenson is an actress best known for So I Married an Axe Murderer, Dead Like Me, and The Player.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson is an actress best known for Arrow, Spartacus, and The Accountant.
Fictional characters named Cynthia
The following list of fictional characters named Cynthia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cynthia is a fictional character from the animated series Pokémon. She is a renowned Pokémon Champion known for her expertise in battling and her strong bond with her Pokémon.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cynthia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cynthia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cynthia was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Cynthia has ranked as high as #16 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Cynthia has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cynthia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cynthia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cynthia (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 52 | |
| TX | 31 | |
| FL | 17 | |
| NY | 17 | |
| IN | 14 | |
| PA | 13 | |
| IL | 13 | |
| OH | 13 | |
| NC | 12 | |
| WA | 12 | |
| AZ | 10 | |
| WI | 10 | |
| OK | 8 | |
| AL | 8 | |
| KY | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cynthia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 331 |
| 2023 | 308 |
| 2022 | 314 |
| 2021 | 346 |
| 2020 | 308 |
| 2019 | 378 |
| 2018 | 419 |
| 2017 | 462 |
| 2016 | 552 |
| 2015 | 580 |
| 2014 | 635 |
| 2013 | 601 |
| 2012 | 750 |
| 2011 | 733 |
| 2010 | 835 |
| 2009 | 893 |
| 2008 | 1,076 |
| 2007 | 1,232 |
| 2006 | 1,420 |
| 2005 | 1,574 |
| 2004 | 1,521 |
| 2003 | 1,662 |
| 2002 | 1,833 |
| 2001 | 1,921 |
| 2000 | 2,038 |
| 1999 | 2,225 |
| 1998 | 2,631 |
| 1997 | 2,714 |
| 1996 | 3,189 |
| 1995 | 2,957 |
| 1994 | 3,161 |
| 1993 | 3,383 |
| 1992 | 3,548 |
| 1991 | 3,707 |
| 1990 | 3,797 |
| 1989 | 3,778 |
| 1988 | 3,784 |
| 1987 | 3,392 |
| 1986 | 3,422 |
| 1985 | 4,130 |
| 1984 | 4,622 |
| 1983 | 4,553 |
| 1982 | 4,427 |
| 1981 | 4,859 |
| 1980 | 4,700 |
| 1979 | 4,932 |
| 1978 | 5,403 |
| 1977 | 5,782 |
| 1976 | 6,012 |
| 1975 | 6,539 |
| 1974 | 7,558 |
| 1973 | 8,744 |
| 1972 | 10,173 |
| 1971 | 12,144 |
| 1970 | 12,913 |
| 1969 | 13,516 |
| 1968 | 14,051 |
| 1967 | 15,341 |
| 1966 | 17,417 |
| 1965 | 19,242 |
| 1964 | 20,319 |
| 1963 | 21,585 |
| 1962 | 24,024 |
| 1961 | 24,389 |
| 1960 | 26,712 |
| 1959 | 30,185 |
| 1958 | 31,013 |
| 1957 | 39,340 |
| 1956 | 32,339 |
| 1955 | 27,178 |
| 1954 | 27,615 |
| 1953 | 25,138 |
| 1952 | 19,879 |
| 1951 | 16,295 |
| 1950 | 14,447 |
| 1949 | 12,900 |
| 1948 | 12,240 |
| 1947 | 10,530 |
| 1946 | 6,895 |
| 1945 | 3,127 |
| 1944 | 2,570 |
| 1943 | 2,894 |
| 1942 | 2,726 |
| 1941 | 2,296 |
| 1940 | 1,882 |
| 1939 | 1,490 |
| 1938 | 1,364 |
| 1937 | 1,181 |
| 1936 | 983 |
| 1935 | 990 |
| 1934 | 1,021 |
| 1933 | 772 |
| 1932 | 637 |
| 1931 | 632 |
| 1930 | 596 |
| 1929 | 487 |
| 1928 | 472 |
| 1927 | 432 |
| 1926 | 392 |
| 1925 | 340 |
| 1924 | 366 |
| 1923 | 310 |
| 1922 | 282 |
| 1921 | 295 |
| 1920 | 285 |
| 1919 | 264 |
| 1918 | 271 |
| 1917 | 240 |
| 1916 | 224 |
| 1915 | 216 |
| 1914 | 183 |
| 1913 | 165 |
| 1912 | 157 |
| 1911 | 105 |
| 1910 | 86 |
| 1909 | 76 |
| 1908 | 56 |
| 1907 | 80 |
| 1906 | 77 |
| 1905 | 63 |
| 1904 | 60 |
| 1903 | 65 |
| 1902 | 63 |
| 1901 | 67 |
| 1900 | 87 |
| 1899 | 71 |
| 1898 | 72 |
| 1897 | 80 |
| 1896 | 63 |
| 1895 | 58 |
| 1894 | 58 |
| 1893 | 73 |
| 1892 | 80 |
| 1891 | 67 |
| 1890 | 79 |
| 1889 | 76 |
| 1888 | 58 |
| 1887 | 55 |
| 1886 | 56 |
| 1885 | 59 |
| 1884 | 59 |
| 1883 | 66 |
| 1882 | 45 |
| 1881 | 47 |
| 1880 | 61 |