Synthia

Meaning & origin

Synthia is a rare name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1890. It reached its peak rank of 11,932 in 1965, reflecting a pattern of occasional use during the mid-20th century. Since 1997, its trajectory has been falling, with only a handful of girls receiving the name each year. In 2025, the name's rarity is such that about 1 in 229,610 newborns are named Synthia. The name is likely a creative respelling of Cynthia, which itself enjoyed widespread popularity for decades. While never ranking among the top names, Synthia's mid-century usage gave it a distinct place among its phonetic peers.

Synthia likely originated as a variant spelling of Cynthia, a name from Greek mythology referring to Artemis, who was born on Mount Cynthus. As a separate name, Synthia first appeared in the late 19th century, possibly as a modern coinage or a phonetic variant. It saw moderate use in the mid-20th century, peaking in 1965, but has since declined in popularity.