Portia: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#7,803

among girls · ↓1,696 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Portia · -30% vs 2024

How common

1 in 114,805

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1989

267 babies

All-time total

10,635

#1,599 all-time among girls

First recorded

1882

in Social Security records

Portia popularity over time

10,635 babies have been named Portia since 1882, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	18	–	18	2	–	#1,006
1890s	52	–	52	5	+189%	#1,034
1900s	105	–	105	11	+102%	#721
1910s	283	–	283	28	+170%	#1,119
1920s	373	–	373	37	+32%	#1,129
1930s	272	–	272	27	-27%	#1,248
1940s	1,327	–	1,327	133	+388%	#590
1950s	1,545	–	1,545	155	+16%	#607
1960s	1,324	–	1,324	132	-14%	#806
1970s	1,056	–	1,056	106	-20%	#987
1980s	1,864	8	1,872	187	+77%	#739
1990s	1,190	–	1,190	119	-36%	#843
2000s	712	–	712	71	-40%	#1,793
2010s	421	–	421	42	-41%	#2,719
2020s (to 2025)	85	–	85	14	-66%	#5,806

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.

How old are people named Portia?

The median living Portia is about 46 years old; half are between 35 and 66. An estimated 8,600 people named Portia are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Portia de Rossi Australian-American actress (born 1973) Contemporary
2 Portia Doubleday American actress b. 1988 · Contemporary
3 Portia Simpson-Miller Prime Minister of Jamaica (2006–2007, 2012–2016) b. 1945 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Portia, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Portia?

The median living Portia is about 46 years old. Half of all living Portias are between 35 and 66 years old.

How many people named Portia are alive today?

An estimated 8,600 people named Portia are alive in the United States, based on 10,635 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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 Doubleday (actor), Portia Simpson-Miller (politician).

Names like Portia

Names that sound and feel close to Portia: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Portia with similar names → More names starting with P →