Philecia is a unique and distinctive name of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word "philotimos," which means "loving honor." The name Philecia was not particularly common in ancient Greece, but it has been used sparingly throughout history.
One notable figure with the name Philecia was Saint Philecia, a 4th-century Christian martyr. She was imprisoned and tortured for her faith during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Although she eventually succumbed to her injuries, her unwavering devotion to Christianity earned her sainthood after her death.
In literature, Philecia appears as a character in the novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" by Victor Hugo. In this story, Philecia is a young woman who is secretly in love with the hunchback, Quasimodo.
Despite its unique sound and interesting historical connections, Philecia remains relatively uncommon today. However, those who bear this name may appreciate its rare beauty and rich heritage.
Based on the statistics provided, it appears that the name Philecia has seen a steady presence among newborns in the United States over the past two decades, with some fluctuations in popularity.
In 1977 and again in 1987, five babies were given the name Philecia each year. This trend continued with five births in both 1990 and 1991. The popularity of the name then peaked slightly in 1996 with seven newborns named Philecia that year. However, the number of births decreased to six in 1998.
Over this period from 1977 to 1998, a total of 33 babies were named Philecia across the United States. This demonstrates that while not extremely common, the name Philecia has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names during these years.