What does Persephone mean?
Persephone is the Greek goddess of spring and the underworld; the meaning of her name is debated.
What does Delia mean?
Delia means “of Delos,” the island birthplace of Artemis.
Persephone vs Delia
Which is more popular?
Persephone is more popular than Delia today: about 372 US babies were given the name Persephone in 2025, compared with 135 named Delia.
| Persephone | Delia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Of debated meaning | Of Delos |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | per-SEF-uh-nee | DEEL-yah |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1962 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2022 (429) | 1957 (490) |
| In 2025 | 372 | 135 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Persephone
Delia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Persephone | Delia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,261 | 873 |
| 2010s | 1,887 | 1,973 |
| 2000s | 465 | 2,346 |
| 1990s | 141 | 2,191 |
| 1980s | 71 | 2,213 |
| 1970s | 97 | 2,976 |
| 1960s | 38 | 3,856 |
| 1950s | 0 | 4,589 |
| 1940s | 0 | 3,213 |
| 1930s | 0 | 2,853 |
| 1920s | 0 | 2,829 |
| 1910s | 0 | 2,360 |
| 1900s | 0 | 1,629 |
| 1890s | 0 | 1,871 |
| 1880s | 0 | 1,546 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Persephone or Delia more popular?
Persephone is more popular than Delia today: about 372 US babies were given the name Persephone in 2025, compared with 135 named Delia.
What is the difference between Persephone and Delia?
Persephone means Of debated meaning (Greek origin), while Delia means Of Delos (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Persephone or Delia?
In US records, Persephone first appears in 1962 and Delia in 1880, so Delia has the longer recorded history.