Portia Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Portia has Latin origins, meaning 'portion' or 'share,' and is linked to the Roman family name 'Portius.' It has evolved from its Latin roots into modern usage, particularly through literature. The name is often associated with traits of intelligence and strength, influenced by Shakespeare's portrayal of Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice.' It does not have direct biblical relevance but is well-known in historical and literary contexts.
The name Portia is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Portia has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Portia' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15031st out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1239th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 988th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 798th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1082nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1017th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2532nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4952nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Portia' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Portia"
Pronunciation
/ˈpɔːrʃə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Portia is derived from the Latin word 'portio,' meaning 'portion' or 'share.' It is often associated with the Roman family name 'Portius.'
Meaning
portion, share
Language Evolution
Portia (Latin), Portia (Renaissance English)
Historical Usage
The name Portia gained popularity in the English-speaking world primarily due to its association with William Shakespeare's character in 'The Merchant of Venice,' written in the late 16th century. The character is depicted as intelligent, strong, and resourceful.
Variants & Derivatives
Porsha, Porshia, Porcia
Modern Popularity & Image
Portia is viewed as a sophisticated and elegant name. It has a classic charm and is often associated with intelligence and strength due to its literary connections.
Famous People
Portia de Rossi, an Australian-American actress, Portia Simpson-Miller, a Jamaican politician
Explore More Portia Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Portia"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Portia"
"Portia" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15031st of 16616 | 8 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1239th of 9107 | 668 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 988th of 9204 | 993 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 798th of 12526 | 2,938 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1082nd of 19264 | 1,792 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1017th of 27321 | 2,734 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2532nd of 35406 | 1,069 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4952nd of 30306 | 323 |
Regional Popularity of "Portia" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
62.19% 3230th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Portia" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
72.60% 1028th/1416 |
77.16% 1064th/1379 |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
54.72% 846th/1546 |
59.64% 928th/1556 |
39.10% 920th/2353 |
67.49% 1044th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
35.07% 781st/2227 |
37.49% 911th/2430 |
21.17% 604th/2853 |
42.02% 1166th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
41.13% 1208th/2937 |
40.88% 1424th/3483 |
23.08% 812th/3518 |
33.93% 1372nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
27.27% 1005th/3685 |
27.69% 1239th/4475 |
14.50% 753rd/5194 |
23.44% 1481st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
69.03% 3163rd/4582 |
47.89% 2473rd/5164 |
60.69% 4438th/7313 |
33.47% 2498th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
78.18% 3508th/4487 |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
56.82% 3566th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Portia"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Portia" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.