Names that start with P
These 244 P names run from Pablo to Pyrrhus, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Penelope, Paisley and Parker.
Phyllida
Leaf (Greek)
GirlEnglish
Pieter
Rock, stone (Greek). No. 13,408 in the US in 2025, 5 babies.
BoyDutch
Patroklos
Glory of the father (Greek)
BoyGreek
Pierluigi
Rock and famous warrior (Greek and Germanic)
BoyItalian
Pedram
Happy, successful (Persian)
BoyPersian
Prokhor
Leader of the dance (Greek)
BoyRussian
Prajwal
Blazing, glowing (Sanskrit). No. 13,411 in the US in 2025, 5 babies.
BoyIndian
Proinsias
Frenchman (Latin)
BoyIrish
Peigín
Pearl (Greek)
GirlIrish
Patricio
Noble (Latin). No. 2,346 in the US in 2025, 59 babies.
BoySpanish
Priti
Love, joy (Sanskrit)
GirlIndian
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Most popular names starting with P in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | For | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #22 | Penelope | 6,225 | Girls | Steady | probably from a Greek word for a type of duck |
| #67 | Paisley | 3,508 | Girls | Steady | from the town of Paisley |
| #102 | Parker | 3,477 | Boys | Steady | park keeper |
| #106 | Parker | 2,536 | Girls | Rising | park keeper |
| #187 | Peter | 1,954 | Boys | Steady | rock, stone |
| #155 | Piper | 1,940 | Girls | Falling | pipe player |
| #157 | Phoebe | 1,885 | Girls | Rising | bright, radiant |
| #199 | Peyton | 1,559 | Girls | Falling | Pæga's town |
| #235 | Patrick | 1,495 | Boys | Steady | nobleman, patrician |
| #225 | Presley | 1,362 | Girls | Steady | priest's clearing |
| #232 | Palmer | 1,330 | Girls | Rising | pilgrim |
| #262 | Paul | 1,316 | Boys | Steady | small, humble |
| #299 | Preston | 1,131 | Boys | Falling | priest's town |
| #292 | Poppy | 1,054 | Girls | Rising | poppy flower |
| #329 | Phoenix | 1,027 | Boys | Steady | dark red, crimson |
| #338 | Paxton | 988 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #346 | Paige | 884 | Girls | Falling | young servant, page |
| #430 | Pablo | 743 | Boys | Steady | small, humble |
| #447 | Prince | 703 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #440 | Payton | 701 | Girls | Falling | Pæga's town |
| #455 | Pedro | 684 | Boys | Steady | rock, stone |
| #505 | Pierce | 598 | Boys | Steady | rock |
| #528 | Philip | 568 | Boys | Steady | lover of horses |
| #534 | Phoenix | 567 | Girls | Steady | dark red, crimson |
| #544 | Priscilla | 555 | Girls | Steady | ancient |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
P names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with P, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Girls
- Share of girls, 2025
- 2.1%
- Place among 26 letters
- 17th
- Different P names
- 236
- In the top 1,000
- 22
Share of girls with a P name: 6.1% in 1950, 1.2% in 2000, and 2.1% in 2025.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 1.2%
- Place among 26 letters
- 20th
- Different P names
- 200
- In the top 1,000
- 17
Share of boys with a P name: 3.1% in 1950, 1.7% in 2000, and 1.2% in 2025.
P names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Petrarock, stone (Greek)
- Patricknobleman, patrician (Latin)
- Paulsmall, humble (Latin)
- Paulinasmall (Latin)
- Peterrock, stone (Greek)
- Paulasmall, humble (Latin)
- Paulinesmall, humble (Latin)
- Perpetuaeverlasting (Latin)
- Piadutiful, devout (Latin)
- Palmirapalm (Latin)
- Paolasmall, humble (Latin)
- Parifairy (Persian)
- Parvinthe Pleiades star cluster (Persian)
- Patricianoble, patrician (Latin)
- Peadarrock, stone (Greek)
- Pedrorock, stone (Greek)
- Peggya pearl (Greek)
- Peiostone (Greek)
Where these names come from
- Greek: 77
- Latin: 66
- Sanskrit: 26
- Persian: 15
- Spanish: 9
- Hebrew: 8
- Old English: 6
- English: 6
All 244 names that start with P
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Pachacútec | changer of the world | Quechua | Boy |
| Pacho | pet form of Francisco | Spanish | Boy |
| Paciencia | patience | Latin | Girl |
| Pacífico | peaceful | Latin | Boy |
| Paco | Frenchman | Latin | Boy |
| Padma | lotus flower | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Pádraig | nobleman, patrician | Latin | Unisex |
| Pádraigín | nobleman, patrician | Latin | Girl |
| Pagona | peacock | Greek | Girl |
| Páidí | nobleman, patrician | Latin | Boy |
| Paige | young servant, page | Old French | Girl |
| Paisley | from the town of Paisley | Scottish place name | Girl |
| Palesa | a flower | Sotho | Girl |
| Pallav | sprout, young leaf | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Pallavi | new leaves, young shoots | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Palmer | pilgrim | Old French | Unisex |
| Palmira | palm | Latin | Girl |
| Palmiro | palm | Latin | Boy |
| Paloma | a dove | Spanish | Girl |
| Panagiota | all holy | Greek | Girl |
| Panagiotis | all holy | Greek | Boy |
| Pancho | pet form of Francisco | Spanish | Boy |
| Pancracio | all power | Greek | Boy |
| Pandora | all gifts | Greek | Girl |
| Pankaj | lotus, born of mud | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Panos | all holy | Greek | Boy |
| Panteleimon | all-compassionate | Greek | Boy |
| Pantelis | all-compassionate | Greek | Boy |
| Pao | pet form of Paola | Spanish | Girl |
| Paola | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paolina | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paolo | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Paquita | diminutive of Francisca, a Frenchwoman | Latin | Girl |
| Paraskevi | friday, day of preparation | Greek | Girl |
| Parastoo | swallow | Persian | Girl |
| Pari | fairy | Persian | Girl |
| Parisa | like a fairy | Persian | Girl |
| Parker | park keeper | Old French | Unisex |
| Parsa | pious, devout | Persian | Boy |
| Parvaneh | a butterfly | Persian | Girl |
| Parvati | of the mountains | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Parveen | the Pleiades | Persian | Unisex |
| Parvin | the Pleiades star cluster | Persian | Unisex |
| Parviz | victorious, fortunate | Persian | Boy |
| Pascal | relating to Easter | Latin | Boy |
| Pascale | relating to Easter | Latin | Girl |
| Paschalis | of Easter | Greek | Boy |
| Pasha | short form of Pavel, small | Latin | Boy |
| Pasquale | relating to Easter | Latin | Boy |
| Pasqualina | of Easter | Latin | Girl |
| Pastora | shepherdess | Latin | Girl |
| Pat | noble | Latin | Girl |
| Patience | calm endurance | Latin | Girl |
| Patria | homeland | Latin | Girl |
| Patrice | noble | Latin | Girl |
| Patricia | noble, patrician | Latin | Unisex |
| Patricio | noble | Latin | Boy |
| Patrick | nobleman, patrician | Latin | Boy |
| Patrizia | noble | Latin | Girl |
| Patrizio | nobleman, patrician | Latin | Boy |
| Patroklos | glory of the father | Greek | Boy |
| Patrycja | noble, patrician | Latin | Girl |
| Pau | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Paul | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Paula | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paule | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paulette | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paulina | small | Latin | Girl |
| Pauline | small, humble | Latin | Girl |
| Paulo | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Pavan | wind, air | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Pavel | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Pavlos | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Paweł | small, humble | Latin | Boy |
| Payam | a message | Persian | Boy |
| Payton | Pæga's town | Old English | Unisex |
| Paz | peace | Latin | Girl |
| Peadar | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pearl | precious gem from the sea | Latin | Girl |
| Pearlie | little pearl | English | Girl |
| Pedram | happy, successful | Persian | Boy |
| Pedro | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pedro Henrique | rock, home ruler | Greek and Germanic | Boy |
| Pedro José | rock, he will add | Greek and Hebrew | Boy |
| Pedro Luis | rock, famous warrior | Greek and Germanic | Boy |
| Pedro Pablo | rock, small | Greek and Latin | Boy |
| Pegah | dawn | Persian | Girl |
| Peggy | a pearl | Greek | Girl |
| Peig | pearl | Greek | Girl |
| Peigi | pearl | Greek | Girl |
| Peigín | pearl | Greek | Girl |
| Peio | stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pekelo | stone, rock | Greek | Boy |
| Pelageya | of the sea | Greek | Girl |
| Pelagia | of the open sea | Greek | Girl |
| Pelayo | of the sea | Greek | Boy |
| Peleg | division, channel | Hebrew | Boy |
| Pelin | wormwood | Turkish | Girl |
| Penelope | probably from a Greek word for a type of duck | Greek | Girl |
| Peng | roc, a mythical giant bird | Chinese | Boy |
| Penha | rock, crag | Portuguese | Girl |
| Peninah | pearl, coral | Hebrew | Girl |
| Peninnah | pearl, coral | Hebrew | Girl |
| Peony | peony flower | Greek | Girl |
| Pepe | pet form of José | Spanish | Boy |
| Peppe | he will add | Hebrew | Boy |
| Peppino | he will add | Hebrew | Boy |
| Per | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pere | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Peregrine | traveler, pilgrim | Latin | Boy |
| Perez | breach, burst forth | Hebrew | Boy |
| Perfecto | perfect | Latin | Boy |
| Peri | fairy | Persian | Girl |
| Periklis | exceedingly glorious | Greek | Boy |
| Perla | pearl | Italian | Girl |
| Perle | pearl | French | Girl |
| Perpetua | everlasting | Latin | Girl |
| Perry | pear tree | Old English | Unisex |
| Persis | Persian woman | Greek | Girl |
| Pervin | the Pleiades star cluster | Persian | Girl |
| Peter | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Petra | rock, stone | Greek | Girl |
| Petros | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Petya | short form of Pyotr, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Peyman | promise, covenant | Persian | Boy |
| Peyton | Pæga's town | Old English | Unisex |
| Phaedra | bright | Greek | Girl |
| Phaethon | shining | Greek | Boy |
| Phelan | little wolf | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Phila | beloved, friend | Greek | Girl |
| Philemon | affectionate | Greek | Boy |
| Philip | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Philipp | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Philippa | lover of horses | Greek | Girl |
| Philippe | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Philippine | lover of horses | Greek | Girl |
| Philomena | loved | Greek | Girl |
| Philopateer | loving his father | Greek | Boy |
| Phlegon | burning | Greek | Boy |
| Phoebe | bright, radiant | Greek | Girl |
| Phoebus | bright | Greek | Boy |
| Phoenix | dark red, crimson | Greek | Unisex |
| Phyllida | leaf | Greek | Girl |
| Phyllis | foliage | Greek | Girl |
| Pia | dutiful, devout | Latin | Girl |
| Piaras | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pierce | rock | Greek | Boy |
| Pierluigi | rock and famous warrior | Greek and Germanic | Boy |
| Pierpaolo | rock and humble | Greek and Latin | Boy |
| Pierre | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pierre-Auguste | rock, plus venerable | Greek and Latin | Boy |
| Pierre-Yves | rock, plus yew tree | Greek and Germanic | Boy |
| Pierrick | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Piers | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pieter | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pietra | stone | Greek | Girl |
| Pietro | rock, stone | Greek | Boy |
| Pīkake | jasmine | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Pilar | pillar, our lady of the pillar | Spanish | Girl |
| Pili | pet form of Pilar | Spanish | Girl |
| Pilib | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Pilipo | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Pino | he will add | Hebrew | Boy |
| Pio | pious, dutiful | Latin | Boy |
| Piotr | stone, rock | Greek | Boy |
| Piper | pipe player | English | Girl |
| Pınar | spring, water source | Turkish | Girl |
| Plácido | calm, placid | Latin | Boy |
| Platon | broad | Greek | Boy |
| Pnina | a pearl | Hebrew | Girl |
| Póilín | small | Latin | Girl |
| Pol | small, humble | Latin | Unisex |
| Pola | short form of Apolonia, from the god Apollo | Greek | Girl |
| Poldi | bold people | Germanic | Boy |
| Poliana | from Pollyanna, the heroine of a 1913 novel | English | Girl |
| Policarpa | much fruit | Greek | Girl |
| Policarpo | much fruit | Greek | Boy |
| Polina | Russian form of Paulina; also a short form of Apollinariya | Greek | Girl |
| Polya | short form of Pelageya, of the sea | Greek | Girl |
| Polychronis | long-lived | Greek | Boy |
| Polykarpos | much fruit | Greek | Boy |
| Polyxeni | very hospitable | Greek | Girl |
| Pōmaikaʻi | blessing, good fortune | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Poncho | pet form of Alfonso | Spanish | Boy |
| Pono | goodness, righteousness | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Pooja | worship, reverence | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Poppy | poppy flower | Old English | Girl |
| Porfirio | purple | Greek | Boy |
| Porter | gatekeeper | English | Boy |
| Posy | a small bouquet | English | Girl |
| Pouya | dynamic | Persian | Boy |
| Poyraz | north wind | Turkish | Boy |
| Prabha | light, radiance | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Prabhakar | light-maker, the sun | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Prabhat | dawn, morning light | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Pradeep | lamp, light | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Pragya | wisdom | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Prajwal | blazing, glowing | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Prakash | light, shining | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Prakriti | nature | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Pranav | the sacred syllable Om | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Praskovya | preparation, the Greek word for Friday | Greek | Girl |
| Preciosa | precious | Ladino | Girl |
| Preeti | love, joy, pleasure | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Prem | love | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Prema | love | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Presentación | presentation | Latin | Girl |
| Presley | priest's clearing | Old English | Unisex |
| Preston | priest's town | Old English | Boy |
| Primavera | spring | Latin | Girl |
| Primitivo | first, original | Latin | Boy |
| Primo | first | Latin | Boy |
| Primrose | first rose | Latin | Girl |
| Primula | very first | Latin | Girl |
| Priscila | ancient | Latin | Girl |
| Priscilla | ancient | Latin | Girl |
| Pritam | most beloved, dearest | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Prithvi | earth | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Priti | love, joy | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Priya | beloved, dear | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Priyanka | agreeable, amiable | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Prodromos | forerunner | Greek | Boy |
| Proinsias | Frenchman | Latin | Boy |
| Prokhor | leader of the dance | Greek | Boy |
| Promise | a pledge kept | English | Girl |
| Próspero | fortunate, prosperous | Latin | Boy |
| Providencia | providence | Latin | Girl |
| Prudence | foresight, good sense | Latin | Girl |
| Prudencia | prudence | Latin | Girl |
| Prudencio | prudent | Latin | Boy |
| Psyche | soul | Greek | Girl |
| Pua | a flower | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Pualani | heavenly flower | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Puanani | beautiful flower | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Punam | full moon | Hindi | Girl |
| Pura | pure | Latin | Girl |
| Purificación | purification, after a feast of the Virgin Mary | Latin | Girl |
| Purita | pet form of Purificación | Spanish | Girl |
| Purnima | full moon | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Pushpa | flower | Sanskrit | Unisex |
| Pyotr | stone, rock | Greek | Boy |
| Pyrrha | flame-colored, red | Greek | Girl |
| Pyrrhus | flame-colored, red | Greek | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names that start with P?
The most popular names starting with P in the US are Penelope (#22 for girls), Paisley (#67 for girls), Parker (#102 for boys), Parker (#106 for girls), Peter (#187 for boys), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many names start with P?
In 2025, 236 different girl names starting with P were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 22 of them were in the top 1,000. In 2025, 200 different boy names starting with P were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 17 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 244 with their meaning and origin.
How common are girl names that start with P?
2.1% of US girls born in 2025 have a name starting with P, making it the 17th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 6.1%.
How common are boy names that start with P?
1.2% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with P, making it the 20th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 3.1%.
Where do names starting with P come from?
The most common origins on this list are Greek (77), Latin (66), Sanskrit (26).