Cynthia is a female given name of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word "Kunýkē", which means "woman from Cynthus". Cynthus was a mountain in the island of Delos, where it was believed that the god Apollo was born. Therefore, the name Cynthia has been associated with the goddess Artemis, who was also known as Cynthia.
The name Cynthia gained popularity during the Renaissance period when it was used by several writers and poets to refer to their female characters. One notable example is the poet John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, who used the name in his poem "Cynthia's Revels".
Throughout history, the name Cynthia has been associated with intellectual pursuits and creativity. Many women named Cynthia have made significant contributions in fields such as literature, science, and politics. Some famous individuals with this name include the American poet Sylvia Plath (originally named Sylvia Cottle but known by her pen name Cynthia), and the British journalist and author Cynthia Ozick.
Today, Cynthia remains a popular name around the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it was among the top 1000 most popular names for girls born between 2000 and 2018. The name is often spelled without the "h" but both variations are considered correct. Overall, Cynthia is a timeless name with a rich history and meaning behind it.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Cynthia has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the decades.
The name first gained notable traction during the 1940s with 15 births recorded in 1942, indicating that it was beginning to be more commonly chosen for newborn girls. This trend continued throughout the decade, peaking at 30 births in 1950.
Cynthia reached its zenith of popularity between the mid-1950s and early 1960s, with the highest number of births recorded being 76 in 1957. This was a significant increase from previous years and suggests that many parents during this period favored this name for their daughters.
However, like many names, Cynthia's popularity began to decline after the mid-1960s. By the early 1970s, fewer than 40 births were recorded annually, indicating a decrease in its favor among parents.
This downward trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with the annual number of Cynthia births hovering around the tens or even single digits. The most recent data available shows that only five births were recorded in 2003, indicating that Cynthia is now quite rare as a given name.
In total, from 1933 to 2003, there have been 1961 births of girls named Cynthia in the United States. This represents a substantial decrease from its peak popularity during the mid-twentieth century and underscores how fashion in naming can change over time.