Girls Names Beginning With P

  1. Philomena
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lover of strength"
    • Description:

      Philomena is an earthy Greek name now used in various Latin countries. While it has felt simply clunky for many years, it's starting -- along with such sister names as Wilhelmina and Frederica -- to sound so clunky it's cool.
  2. Priya
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      Priya originated in India as a name derived from the Sanskrit word for "beloved." In India, where names are often given based on one's birthday and horoscope, Priya is traditionally given to girls born in August. Priya is used in Hindu mythology as the name of a daughter of King Daksha—known for fathering 146 daughters.
  3. Payton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fighting man's estate"
    • Description:

      Rarely used until the 90s, Payton rose up the charts when it was popularized by the football star, Peyton Manning, and, interestingly, by the character of "Peyton Flanders", the villainess of the 1992 film, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
  4. Prudence
    • Origin:

      Virtue name
    • Meaning:

      "caution"
    • Description:

      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.
  5. Phoenix
    • Origin:

      Arizona place name and Greek
    • Meaning:

      "dark red"
    • Description:

      Phoenix is a New Age name symbolizing rebirth and immortality. It's also a place name, a color name, a mythological name, AND an animal name, combining several of today's hottest trends in one appealing package.
  6. Percy
    • Origin:

      French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge
    • Description:

      Percy is a traditional boys' name that could be cute and unexpected for a girl – perhaps as a short form for Persephone or Persis. Adventurous and literary Percy could follow in the footsteps of other boyish nicknames for girls, like Frankie and Charlie.
  7. Phaedra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "bright"
    • Description:

      This name of a tragic figure in Greek mythology, the daughter of King Minos, sister of Ariadne and wife of Theseus, has a mysterious and intriguing appeal, and would make a dramatic choice.
  8. Pauline
    • Origin:

      French, feminine variation of Paul
    • Meaning:

      "small"
    • Description:

      Pauline had its moment of glory almost a century ago, when movie audiences were thrilling to the silent serial The Perils of Pauline; it's a sweet and gentle name that just might be due for reconsideration. Off the list since the late 1990s, Pauline was a Top 50 name from around 1908 to 1930.
  9. Perry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "pear tree"
    • Description:

      Perry fits right in with rising boyish nicknames for girls and cool picks like Frankie and Scottie. This relaxed name sounds novel compared to such former favorites as Kerry and Sherry.
  10. Posy
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "a bunch of flowers"
    • Description:

      A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be seen as a more unusual possible alternative to Rosy or Josie.
  11. Phyllis
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "green bough"
    • Description:

      Phyllis has been used by classical poets for the idealized pastoral maiden. A Greek mythological name of a woman who was turned into an almond tree, Phyllis was in the Top 100 from 1916 to 1958, reaching #24 in 1929, and has the (remote) possibility of joining other revived s-ending names like Iris. In the 'St Clare' book series by Enid Blyton Phyllis is nicknamed Fizz. Just a thought. Phyllida is a variation that sounds at once more old-fashioned and more stylish.
  12. Peppa
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Giuseppa, Italian
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      Not long ago, Peppa may have been at risk for confusion with the name Pepper. But thanks to the British children's TV series Peppa Pig, Peppa is now a household name. If your household contains preschoolers, that is.
  13. Patsy
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Patricia
    • Meaning:

      "noble, patrician"
    • Description:

      This sassy, spunky name was used for the mostly Irish jump-roping pigtailed girls of the thirties and forties -- and some Irish and Italian boys as well. Its most noted bearer was iconic country music singer Patsy Cline (born Virginia), and was sighted most recently in the Ab Fab movie. After reaching Number 52 in the late thirties, it dropped off the list completely in 1970--and we're not anticipating a return.
  14. Paulette
    • Origin:

      French, feminine diminutive of Paul
    • Meaning:

      "small"
    • Description:

      It's interesting how names imported to the US from other countries and cultures have fashion cycles based on their culture of origin. Paulette along with cousins Annette and Claudette were the most fashionable French imports in the middle of the last century, only to sink from sight and be replaced by such current French favorites as Charlotte, Sophie, and Eloise. In general, feminizations of male names have faded in favor of gender-neutral choices, and Paul itself is off its own fashion peak.
  15. Penrose
    • Origin:

      Cornish and Welsh place name and surname
    • Meaning:

      "top of the heath"
    • Description:

      Penrose – an ancient place-name and surname derived from several villages in Cornwall, Wales, and the Welsh border country of England – would make for an even more unexpected alternative to quirky nature name Primrose. Intuitive nicknames Penny or Rosie make it feel more wearable.
  16. Prima
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "first"
    • Description:

      Will assure your daughter she's numero uno.
  17. Pippi
    • Origin:

      Norse variation of Philippa
    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"
    • Description:

      Pippi may be cute but isn't very practical. In addition to being forever Pippi Longstocking, there is that variant pee-pee spelling to consider. Try Pippa instead.
  18. Pippin
    • Origin:

      Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "awe-inspiring"
    • Description:

      Super-sweet name that was the title of a Broadway play -- but best known as a type of apple. Could also make a cute short form for names like Philippa or Penelope.
  19. Paula
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Paul, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "small"
    • Description:

      Paula still seems somewhat stuck in the era of duo Paul and Paula bopping out the song "Hey, Paula." Two pronunciations are possible—the English "PAW-la" and the Portuguese "POW-la."
  20. Parthenia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "chaste maiden"
    • Description:

      Parthenia may be a bit unwieldy, but does conjure up majestic images of the Parthenon. It was briefly in the US charts in the late 19th century.

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