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    The first name Portia

    A girl’s name from Latin meaning “pig”.

    Pronounced /ˈpɔɹ.ʃə/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Portia means “pig” in Latin.

    From Latin Porcia, a feminine form of the gens name Porcius (the gens of the Cato the Elder and his famous descendants), from porcus (“pig”). The moon is named for the character in The Merchant of Venice.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Portia last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 2004, with 32 births (#840).

    02040 1996200020052010201520202025
    498
    babies named Portia, 1996–2025
    #5,891
    rank in 2024
    2004
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Portia with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Portia at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 14 girls born in the United States were named Portia, the 7,803rd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1989, when 259 were.

    0150300 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    10,635
    babies named Portia since 1880
    #7,803
    rank in 2025
    1989
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Portia

    5 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Portia de Rossi
      Australian-American actress, born 1973
    • Portia Simpson-Miller
      Former prime minister of Jamaica, born 1945
    • Portia Doubleday
      American actress, born 1988
    • Portia White
      Canadian opera singer (1911-1968)
    • Portia Perez
      Canadian professional wrestler, born 1987

    More Latin girls’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Portia mean?
    Portia means “pig” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Portia?
    From Latin Porcia, a feminine form of the gens name Porcius (the gens of the Cato the Elder and his famous descendants), from porcus (“pig”). The moon is named for the character in The Merchant of Venice.
    How popular is the name Portia?
    In 2024, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Portia, ranking 5,891st. Its peak was 2004, with 32 births.
    Is Portia a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 10,635 US babies named Portia since 1880 were girls.
    When was Portia most popular?
    1989 in the United States, when 259 babies were named Portia, its highest rank at 758th.
    How do you pronounce Portia?
    Portia is /ˈpɔɹ.ʃə/, 2 syllables.