Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Cindy
GirlEnglish, Greek· “from Mount Cynthus (via Cynthia)”
- Meaning
- from Mount Cynthus (via Cynthia)
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- SIN-dee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,929
- US babies 2025
- 100
- Best rank
- #19 (1957)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Cindy
Cindy is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “from Mount Cynthus (via Cynthia)”.
Cindy began as a pet form of Cynthia or Lucinda. Cynthia comes from the Greek Kynthia, an epithet of the goddess Artemis, who was said to have been born on Mount Kynthos on the island of Delos. Lucinda is an elaboration of Lucia, from the Latin for light. Cindy became a popular independent name in the mid-twentieth century in the United States. It feels friendly, upbeat and retro. Cindy also recalls the fairy-tale nickname Cinderella, though the names are unrelated.
Other spellings with the same sound: Cyndi.
Popularity over time
Cindy first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 77 different years, starting in 1938. Its best national rank was #19 in 1957, the same year it reached its highest count of 20,272 babies. In 2025, 100 babies were named Cindy, and it ranked #1,929 nationally. That is 60% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,487 in 1920, #185 in 1950, #150 in 1980, #263 in 2000, #528 in 2010, and #1,929 in 2025. Of the 257,294 US girls named Cindy since records began, 36% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 83,979 babies. Since 2010, 3,890 more have been named Cindy.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Julie, Kathy, Cheryl, Brenda, and Catherine.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cindy ranked highest in Indiana, New York, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | #1079 | 5 |
| New York | #1433 | 9 |
| Texas | #1551 | 15 |
| Georgia | #1581 | 5 |
| California | #1669 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Cindy is usually pronounced SIN-dee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with C and ends in “-dy”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Cyndi.
Middle names for Cindy
A few middle names that flow with Cindy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cindy
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Lists that include Cindy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cindy mean?
Cindy is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “from Mount Cynthus (via Cynthia)”.
What is the origin of the name Cindy?
Cindy has English and Greek roots. Cindy began as a pet form of Cynthia or Lucinda.
Is Cindy a popular name?
Not especially. Cindy ranked #1,929 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Cindy a boy or girl name?
Cindy is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Cindy?
Cindy is usually pronounced SIN-dee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings