"woman from Mount Cynthus"
Origin: Greek
Language: Greek
Cynthia
Pronunciation: [ s-IHNTH-ee-uh ]
Does Cynthia flow with your last name?
A moon goddess name beloved by the Boomers
English
American
French
Spanish
Classic
Elegant
Vintage
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Cynthia
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Cynthia
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"moon goddess"
Origin: Greek epithet of Artemis
Language: Greek
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Cynthia
See all →What the Cynthia report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Cynthia the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Cynthia
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Cynthia head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Cynthia actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Cynthia
Cynthia is the Latinized form of Greek Kynthia, an epithet for the goddess Artemis who according to myth was born on Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos. The mountain name may derive from the Phoenician word for pinnacle. As a poetic name for the moon goddess, Cynthia was used extensively in Elizabethan and Renaissance literature.
Cynthia surged to enormous popularity in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, ranking in the top 10 for much of that era. It has declined sharply since the 1980s, now feeling distinctly of that Boomer generation.
Elizabethan poets used Cynthia as a poetic name for Queen Elizabeth I, associating her with the moon goddess Diana. Edmund Spenser and Sir Walter Raleigh both wrote famous poems featuring Cynthia as the queen.
Historical Record
Cynthia first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 635,926 babies have been named Cynthia in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Cynthia is past its peak , currently ranked #827 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Queen Elizabeth I was frequently addressed as Cynthia in Elizabethan poetry, linking her to the moon goddess Diana
- Cynthia was a top-10 U.S. baby name from 1955-1965
Cynthia in Other Languages
Greek
Kynthia
French
Cynthie
Italian
Cinzia
Spanish
Cintia
Portuguese
Cintia
Popularity Over Time
#827
Current Rank
Peaked 1957
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Cynthia
C
Cynthia Nixon
Actor
1966
Emmy Award-winning actress known for Sex and the City and political activist
C
Cyndi Lauper
Musician
1953
Iconic American pop singer known for Girls Just Want to Have Fun
A
Artemis Fictional
Other
Greek moon goddess born on Mount Cynthus, also known as Cynthia in Latin poetry
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Sol
Girl
"sun goddess"
#818
Promise
Girl
"hope and assurance"
#819
Janelle
Girl
"God is gracious"
#776
Malaysia
Girl
"land of mountains"
#858
Marjorie
Girl
"pearl"
#822
Compare Cynthia with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #827
- Total SSA Count
- 331
- Cultural Origins
- English American French Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Cindy
Cyndi
Cyn
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Cynthia
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Cynthia fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Cynthia is also used as a boy name, ranked #30902.
View Cynthia as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Cynthia →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Cynthia with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Cynthia
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Cynthia and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Cynthia sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Sol
Girl
Norse origin
"sun goddess"
#818 in US
Promise
Girl
English/American origin
"hope and assurance"
#819 in US
Janelle
Girl
Hebrew origin
"God is gracious"
#776 in US
Malaysia
Girl
Sanskrit Malaya origin
"land of mountains"
#858 in US
Marjorie
Girl
Greek via Latin origin
"pearl"
#822 in US
Greta
Girl
symbolic origin
"pure, precious gem"
#856 in US
Marie
Girl
Hebrew alternative etymology origin
"rebellion"
#637 in US
Robin
Girl
Old French origin
"little Robert"
#798 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Cynthia's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cynthia
What does the name Cynthia mean?
"woman from Mount Cynthus" (from Greek). "moon goddess" (from Greek epithet of Artemis). Cynthia is the Latinized form of Greek Kynthia, an epithet for the goddess Artemis who according to myth was born on Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos. The mountain name may derive from the Phoenician word for pinnacle. As a poetic name for the moon goddess, Cynthia was used extensively in Elizabethan and Renaissance literature.
What is the origin of the name Cynthia?
Cynthia has Greek, Greek epithet of Artemis, English, American, French, and Spanish origins. In Greek, it means "woman from Mount Cynthus". In Greek epithet of Artemis, it means "moon goddess".
Is Cynthia a boy or girl name?
Cynthia is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #827. As a boy name, it is ranked #30902. Cynthia is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Cynthia?
Cynthia is pronounced s-IHNTH-ee-uh.
How popular is the name Cynthia?
Cynthia is currently ranked #827 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Cynthia?
Common nicknames for Cynthia include Cindy, Cyndi, and Cyn.
What are good middle names for Cynthia?
Popular middle name pairings include Cynthia Marie, Cynthia Ann, Cynthia Louise, Cynthia Grace, Cynthia Jean, Cynthia Elizabeth, and Cynthia Renee.
What are good sibling names for Cynthia?
Names that pair well with Cynthia as siblings include Patricia, Sandra, Deborah, Gregory, Ronald, Douglas, and Barbara.
How many syllables does Cynthia have?
Cynthia has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Cynthia a common or rare name?
Cynthia is moderately common, ranked #827 for girls in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.
About the Name Cynthia
Cynthia is a girl name with English, American, French, and Spanish origins . The name means "woman from Mount Cynthus" in Greek .
Is Cynthia a boy or girl name? Cynthia is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #827 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #30,902. Cynthia is more commonly used as a girl name.
Cynthia is currently ranked #827 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Cynthia has 3 syllables and is pronounced s-IHNTH-ee-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Cynthia include Cindy, Cyndi, and Cyn. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Greek Names
Browse all names with this origin
C
Names Starting with C
More girl names like Cynthia
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis