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Cynthia

♀ Girl

Pronounced SIN-thee-uh /ˈsɪn.θi.ə/High

Meaning: From Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos; a poetic epithet of the goddess Artemis (Diana), who was said to have been born thereHigh

In 30 seconds: A Greek name meaning 'woman of Mount Cynthus' — a poetic title of the moon goddess Artemis, born on that sacred hill on Delos. It was fashionable in the 1950s–1970s and is now classic-vintage.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningFrom Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos; a poetic epithet of the goddess Artemis (Diana), who was said to have been born there
U.S. rank (2024)#826 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births331 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1957
Total births (all-time)≈ 711,201

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195718802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Cynthia is a Greek epithet (Kynthia) meaning 'woman from Mount Cynthus,' the sacred hill on the island of Delos where, in mythology, Artemis and Apollo were born. Latin poets adopted the name as a poetic name for the moon goddess Diana/Artemis, and it entered English literary use through Roman elegy — Propertius used Cynthia as the name of his muse.

Cynthia entered common English use in the 18th century and rose strongly in the United States in the mid-20th century, ranking in the top 10 for girls in the 1950s–1960s. It declined steadily through the 1980s–2000s. By 2024 it ranked #826, retaining a classic if dated feel.

Did you know? Elizabethan poets used Cynthia as a veiled tribute to Queen Elizabeth I, identifying her with the chaste moon goddess — Edmund Spenser's Colin Clouts Come Home Againe (1595) addresses her as 'Cynthia, the Lady of the Sea.'
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Cynthia — etymology and Greek mythologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CinziaSynthia

Nicknames

CindyCyndiCyn

Famous Bearers

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If you like Cynthia…

Diana— the Roman equivalent of Artemis, sharing the same mythological moon goddess connection
Artemis— the Greek goddess name Cynthia is an epithet of
Selene— the Greek moon goddess name in the same mythological cluster
Aurora— Roman dawn goddess name sharing Cynthia's classical elegance
Helen— Greek mythology name from the same mid-century popular era

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cynthia mean?

Cynthia means 'woman from Mount Cynthus,' a sacred hill on Delos where Artemis was said to be born. It is a poetic epithet of the moon goddess.

How do you pronounce Cynthia?

It's said SIN-thee-uh — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cynthia a boy or girl name?

Cynthia is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Cynthia?

Cynthia ranked #826 for U.S. girls in 2024, far below its 1950s top-10 peak.