girls' name · peaked 1989

Portia

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Every Portia since 1882 — 10,635 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#7,803
among girls
Babies in 2025
14
named Portia
Peak year
1989
267 babies
All-time total
10,635
since 1882

The story of Portia

Portia is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,803 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1882, 10,635 American babies have been named Portia. Its peak came in 1989, when 267 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Portia stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Portia year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 14 #7,803
2024 20 #6,107
2023 15 #7,558
2022 8 #11,983
2021 7 #13,166
2020 21 #5,806
2019 27 #5,006
2018 21 #5,958
2017 26 #5,149
2016 29 #4,816
2015 42 #3,691
2014 52 #3,177
2013 55 #3,036
2012 52 #3,201
2011 65 #2,719
2010 52 #3,192
2009 52 #3,238
2008 45 #3,632
2007 65 #2,815
2006 57 #3,011
2005 67 #2,570
2004 72 #2,389
2003 72 #2,336
2002 87 #2,014
2001 100 #1,793
2000 95 #1,825
1995 81 #1,784
1990 234 #843
1985 171 #928
1980 132 #1,073
1975 76 #1,397
1970 114 #1,072
1965 152 #806
1960 144 #864
1955 170 #728
1950 190 #607
1945 115 #696
1940 47 #1,059
1935 25 #1,506
1930 37 #1,248
1925 33 #1,437
1920 45 #1,129
1915 34 #1,186
1910 16 #1,157
1905 10 #1,287
1900 26 #721
1895 7 #1,401
1890 5 #1,494
1885
1880

Famous people named Portia

  1. Portia de Rossi Actor · b. 1973
  2. Portia Simpson-Miller Politician · b. 1945
  3. Portia Doubleday Actor · b. 1988

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Portia mean?

From Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual)., a feminine form of the gens name Porcius (the gens of the Cato the Elder and his famous descendants),…

How popular is the name Portia in 2025?

Portia ranked #7,803 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Portia?

10,635 babies have been named Portia in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Portia most popular?

Portia peaked in 1989, when 267 newborns received the name.

Is Portia a boy or girl name?

Portia is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Portia rising or falling?

Portia is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Portia?

Well-known people named Portia include Portia de Rossi (actor), Portia Simpson-Miller (politician), Portia Doubleday (actor).

Names like Portia

Compare Portia with similar names →