Ligia
A girl's name of Latin origin with 702 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A taxonomic genus within the family Ligiidae – certain isopods, called rock lice or sea slaters, that chiefly live in tidal zone cliffs and rocky beaches.
Ligia is a girl's baby name of Latin and Greek origin — in mythology, Ligia (or Ligea) was one of the Sirens, whose name derives from the Greek ligys (clear-toned, sweet-voiced), meaning 'clear voice' or 'sweet singing.'
Ligia carries the enchanting heritage of the singing Sirens — powerful, beautiful, and impossible to resist. In Brazil and Portuguese-speaking communities, Ligia is a genuine given name with a long history, carrying the sweetness of its musical meaning without the dangerous associations.
EtymologyShow more
Though Ligia dates back to 1918 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Latin classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Ligia’s 702 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ligia was #11242 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #14461, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 22 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 87 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 142 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 185 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 128 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 82 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 12 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 16 | — |
| 1920s | 17 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | — |
The Story of Ligia
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1985, Ligia is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Ligia are most likely born between 1975 and 1995.
How rare is Ligia?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Ligia — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1918, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 185 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Ligia by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Ligia per day would take 1.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(62 years, 1918–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #14461 |
| 2018 | 5 | #17103 |
| 2012 | 6 | #16077 |
| 2011 | 5 | #18404 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16138 |
| 2009 | 13 | #9188 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10539 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12501 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11242 |
| 2003 | 14 | #7825 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11728 |
| 2001 | 15 | #7173 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10386 |
| 1999 | 9 | #9982 |
| 1998 | 15 | #6569 |
| 1997 | 12 | #7552 |
| 1996 | 9 | #9245 |
| 1995 | 12 | #7327 |
| 1994 | 7 | #11249 |
| 1993 | 15 | #6134 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ligia a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ligia most popular?
How popular is the name Ligia?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1918–2024