Declining since 2005, #4,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Passion since 1974
Babies named Passion per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 165 |
| 1980s | 288 |
| 1990s | 690 |
| 2000s | 657 |
| 2010s | 444 |
| 2020s | 231 |
Meaning & origin
Passion first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1974, a decade that saw the rise of unconventional virtue names. It reached its highest rank of 4,546 in 1992, with a peak year that year as well. The name has since declined in popularity, falling steadily since 2005, yet it retains a distinctive, modern feel. In 2025, about 1 in 53,576 newborn girls received the name, and it is most commonly recorded in Georgia. As a word name, Passion carries strong emotional resonance, aligning with other late-20th-century coinages that prioritize impact over tradition.
Passion derives from the Latin 'passio' meaning 'suffering' or 'enduring', but entered English via Old French and Christian terminology referring to the sufferings of Jesus. As a given name, it emerged in the late 20th century, likely inspired by the virtue name trend and the word's positive connotations of intensity and love.
Where Passion is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pash, Sia
Sibling names for Passion
Names that share Passion's style, for a brother or sister.
