User-created list
Word Names used in USA 2020
Across 36 pages
of 36
Peony
Flower name; Latin
"healing"
One of the rarest of the floral names, though not without some teasing potential. Peony is a historical 1948 novel by Pearl S. Buck.
Perl
Perl is a concise feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be an alternative spelling of Pearl, the English gemstone name, or it could derive from Yiddish origins where it means "pearl"…
Perla
Spanish variation of Pearl
Consistently popular Latina gem name; good choice for those who can't shake Pearl's grandmotherly vibe.
Perpetua
Latin
"perpetual"
A 3rd century saint's name sometimes used in Catholic communities, and in Western European countries like Portugal and Italy.
Pilar
Spanish
"pillar"
The fact that this Spanish classic, which honors the Virgin Mary, does not end in the conventional letter 'a' gives it a special sense of strength, elegance, and style, making it a worthy choice. The…
Pixie
Swedish or Cornish
"fairy"
Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally…
Poetry
Word name
"literary form with distinctive style, rhythm, and line breaks; as beautiful as a poem"
A lyrical choice with a similar feel to Story and Posy and a similar sound to Penelope. It might refer to either a work of poetry, a collection of poems, or something that is comparable to the beauty…
Prairie
English nature name
"prairie"
Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland . Prairie is derived from the Old French word praierie , which…
Praise
Word name
Generally used in conjunction with another name to form a religious phrase -- for instance the daughter of rapper DMX is called Praise Mary Ella.
Precious
Latin word name
"of great worth, expensive"
Though many might find it too syrupy, hundreds of parents each year choose this name for their daughters to make them feel special. Precious Ramotswe is the engaging African sleuth in the popular No.…
Primrose
English flower name
"first rose"
A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen…
Princess
Word name
"princess"
Part of the trend for formerly canine royal names; this is one a little girl might love—up till the age of eight.
Promyse
Promyse is a contemporary feminine name that represents a creative spelling of "Promise." This modern invention reflects the trend of transforming common words into distinctive names by altering…
Prudence
Virtue name
"caution"
Prudence, like Hope and Faith, is a Puritan virtue name with a quiet charm and sensitivity that is slowly returning to favor, though it hasn't yet registered on the charts. The White Album Beatles…
Psalm
Word name
"sacred song or hymn"
Psalm became a name by the power of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who chose it for their younger son in 2019. As a spiritual word name however, it is a perfectly gender neutral choice that works…
Purity
Virtue name
A puritan virtue name that's only slightly less challenging than Chastity. It was used for nearly 20 baby girls in the contemporary US in one recent year.
Purpose
Queen
Word name
"queen"
Queen has seen a revival in recent times, reaching its record high in 2018 with 280 births — it has remained steady since then. Previously, Queen saw a peak in the 1920s, but its origins go back even…
Queenie
English
"queen"
Wisecracking waitress name stuck in the luncheonette. Started as nickname for girls named Regina -- queen in Latin -- now mostly a canine choice.
Rainbow
English
"rainbow"
Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.