Ligia

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-hee-uh /ˈliː.hi.ə/Medium

Meaning: The Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian form of Lygia, a Greek name usually connected to ligys, 'clear-toned, clear-voiced', and also a name of one of the sirens in Greek myth. Its modern spread owes much to Lygia, the heroine of Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel Quo Vadis.Low

In 30 seconds: Ligia comes from the Greek Lygia, tied to 'clear-voiced' — and known from the novel Quo Vadis (said 'LEE-hee-uh').

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Origin MediumSpanish, Greek

MeaningThe Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian form of Lygia, a Greek name usually connected to ligys, 'clear-toned, clear-voiced', and also a name of one of the sirens in Greek myth. Its modern spread owes much to Lygia, the heroine of Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel Quo Vadis.

U.S. rank (2024)#14461 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1985

Total births (all-time)≈ 702

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ligia is the Iberian and Romanian form of Lygia, a Greek name linked to ligys, 'clear-toned' — the name of a siren in myth. The novel Quo Vadis (1896) gave it a heroine and a wide readership, and it became well used in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Romania. English speakers sometimes say it 'LIJ-ee-uh' (said 'LEE-hee-uh').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare here, literary, and Mediterranean.

Did you know? Lygia is the heroine of Quo Vadis, Sienkiewicz's Nobel-crowned novel of Rome — and in Greek myth, Ligeia was one of the clear-voiced sirens (said 'LEE-hee-uh').

Overall data confidence 46%

References — Ligia — Iberian/Romanian form of Lygia; Greek ligys 'clear-toned'; Quo Vadis

Variations

LygiaLigeiaLidia

Nicknames

LigiLili

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ligia mean?

Ligia comes from the Greek Lygia, usually tied to ligys, 'clear-toned' — also the name of a siren in myth.

How do you pronounce Ligia?

In Spanish it's said LEE-hee-uh /ˈliː.hi.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the first. English speakers sometimes say LIJ-ee-uh.

Is Ligia a boy or girl name?

Ligia is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Ligia?

Ligia is rare in the U.S. but well used in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Romania.