Ponciano
A boy's name of Latin origin with 264 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Ponciano is a boy's baby name of Latin origin via Spanish, the Spanish form of Pontianus, from the Latin Pontianus, related to pontus meaning 'sea' or from Pontius ('of Pontus,' the region of northern Anatolia). Saint Pontian was a third-century pope and martyr, and Blessed Ponciano Nieto is a Spanish martyr of the twentieth century.
Ponciano carries the weight of early Christian martyrology into Latin American communities, where Catholic saint names have been given with devotional pride for centuries.
EtymologyShow more
Ponciano is cataloged under the Latin naming tradition. Latin-origin names have been a backbone of Western naming for centuries, carried forward through the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and the Romance languages.
In the U.S., Ponciano has been recorded as a boy's name since 1915, with 264 total births. Browse the Latin names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ponciano has 42+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1915.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 19 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 36 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 55 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 30 | — |
| 1940s | 30 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 16 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 46 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 7 | — |
The Story of Ponciano
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1925, Ponciano is a name steeped in history. Boys named Ponciano are most likely born between 1915 and 1935.
How rare is Ponciano?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ponciano is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1915, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 55 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Ponciano by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(42 years, 1915–2000)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 | #8005 |
| 1999 | 5 | #11167 |
| 1993 | 6 | #8416 |
| 1992 | 8 | #6539 |
| 1985 | 5 | #7317 |
| 1983 | 6 | #6038 |
| 1982 | 6 | #6201 |
| 1979 | 5 | #6797 |
| 1978 | 9 | #4076 |
| 1974 | 5 | #5796 |
| 1973 | 7 | #4399 |
| 1972 | 5 | #5546 |
| 1971 | 5 | #5470 |
| 1969 | 8 | #3516 |
| 1968 | 7 | #3599 |
| 1967 | 5 | #4402 |
| 1965 | 5 | #4303 |
| 1964 | 7 | #3527 |
| 1963 | 8 | #3263 |
| 1962 | 5 | #4485 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ponciano a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ponciano most popular?
How popular is the name Ponciano?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–2000