Peregrine
About Peregrine
Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the US, where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's not beyond consideration — in fact it's already been chosen by at least one Berry.
The meaning of Peregrine, which was borne by several early male saints, relates to the transitory nature of life on earth, having nothing to do with the peregrine falcon. In literature, it is best known from the central character of Tobias Smollett's novel Peregrine Pickle.
Historically, Peregrine was the name chosen for the first English child born in the New World — actually on the Mayflower when it was docked in Provincetown.
And there's always the Mad Men-era nickname Perry to make Peregrine more user-friendly.
Though traditionally a male name, today a sizable portion of the Peregrines are female: 11 girls were named Peregrine in the US last year and 35 boys. Peregrine Teng Heard is a female playwright and actor.
Pronounced PER-uh-grin; PER-uh-gryne.
As of October 2026, Peregrine ranked #9318 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #6399 in 2022.
Editor: Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
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Peregrine on lists
Famous Peregrines
- Peregrine Honig
American artist on TV's "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist"
- Peregrine Teng Heard
actor and playwright
Peregrine in pop culture
- Alma LeFay Peregrine
shape,shifting female character of Ransom Riggs's "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"
- Peregrine "Perry"
main character in Gail Carson Levine's "the lost kingdom of bamarre"