Holding steady.
Popularity of Modesta since 1890
Babies named Modesta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Modesta's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 47 |
| 1910s | 184 |
| 1920s | 261 |
| 1930s | 279 |
| 1940s | 209 |
| 1950s | 145 |
| 1960s | 147 |
| 1970s | 120 |
| 1980s | 82 |
| 1990s | 50 |
| 2000s | 59 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Modesta is a name with clear Latin roots meaning 'modest' or 'humble,' reflecting a virtue that has been honored across cultures for centuries. Its peak year of usage in the United States was 1909, during a period when many classic and saintly names were favored. Since then, the name has experienced a steady decline, and according to Social Security data for the most recent year, 2025, it does not appear in the top 1,000 names, with an incidence rate of less than 1 in 1 million births. The name's trajectory has remained stable at these low levels for decades, making it a rare but historically grounded choice.
Modesta is the feminine form of the Latin name Modestus, derived from the word modestus meaning 'moderate' or 'keeping due measure.' It was a cognomen in ancient Rome, later adopted as a Christian name honoring saints, including Saint Modesta of Rome, a 6th-century virgin martyr. The name spread in use across Romance-language countries like Spain and Italy, and saw moderate popularity in the United States in the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Moddie, Esta, Modes
Variants: Modestia, Modesty
Sibling names for Modesta
Names that share Modesta's style, for a brother or sister.
