Xenia

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZEE-nee-ə /ˈzi.ni.ə/High

Meaning: Hospitality, guest-friendship; from Greek xenia, the sacred duty of welcome to strangersHigh

In 30 seconds: The ancient Greek virtue of welcome, worn as a name: xenia was the sacred bond between host and guest, watched over by Zeus himself. An X-name with a heart of gold.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningHospitality, guest-friendship; from Greek xenia, the sacred duty of welcome to strangers

U.S. rank (2025)#2931 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births58 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,936

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

Xenia is the Greek word for hospitality — the formalized, god-protected friendship between host and guest that structures the Odyssey — used as a girl's name since Byzantine times. St. Xenia of Rome and the beloved homeless wanderer St. Xenia of St. Petersburg anchored it in Orthodox calendars, making it a steady Russian and Greek choice (Russian form Ksenia).

America knows the word through Xenia, Ohio — named for the virtue — and the warrior-princess near-namesake Xena. As a given name it is rare in the U.S., scholarly and kind at once.

Did you know? In Homer, violating xenia — guest-friendship — is what doomed Troy: Paris broke it by stealing his host's wife, Helen.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Xenia — etymology

Variations

KseniaXeniyaZenia

Nicknames

XenNia

Famous Bearers

★Xenia of St. Petersburg (1719–1803)
Russian Orthodox saint who gave away her wealth and wandered the city she protected.

If you like Xenia…

Zenaida— a fellow Greek Z-sound saint's name

Zoe— the bright Greek classic with matching energy

Anastasia— another Orthodox-calendar favorite

Kalia— another Greek name

Eleia— shares Xenia's Greek roots

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Xenia mean?

Xenia is the Greek word for 'hospitality' — the sacred guest-friendship of the ancient world — used as a girl's name.

How do you pronounce Xenia?

It's said ZEE-nee-ə /ˈzi.ni.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Xenia a boy or girl name?

Xenia is a girl's name.

How popular is Xenia?

Xenia is a rare name in the U.S., steadier in Greek and Russian communities.