P- Girls

Penelope

Greek

"weaver"

As elegant and refined as it is sweet and energized., Penelope has been well and truly revived in the 21st-century. Off the Top 1000 for 25 years, Penelope jumped back on in 2001 and has been heading…

Phoebe

Greek

"radiant, shining one"

Bubbly, bright, and versatile, Phoebe is a name with mythological, biblical, and literary ties. Used since the 17th century, it fell out of fashion in the US during the '60s, only to be revived after…

Poppy

Flower name, English from Latin

"red flower"

Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk. Long popular throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Poppy is finally starting to rise toward the top in…

Paloma

Spanish

"dove"

Paloma is vibrant and ruby-lipped a la jewelry designer Paloma Picasso, but it also suggests peace, as symbolized by the dove. Paloma is a highly recommended striking but soft name, one of the best…

Patience

Latin virtue name

"ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"

Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's…

Pen

Pen as a feminine given name is exceptionally rare, functioning more commonly as a nickname for longer names like Penelope, Pentha, or Penina. As a standalone name, Pen has a minimalist, modern…

Pepper

English from Latin, Sanskrit, "the pepper plant; berry"

"the pepper plant; berry"

With its bubbly sounds and stylish feel, Pepper joins a small but distinctive group of names inspired by the spice rack: Saffron, Juniper, Cassia, Sage, Ginger, and Rosemary. Enough like Pippa, Piper…

Peri

Greek; Hebrew; Persian

"mountain dweller; fruit; fairy"

This name used for both sexes in several cultures is quite well used in Israel.

Peridot

Arabic

"a green gemstone"

Peridot is the gem of the month of August, a vibrant green mineral, said to be good for helping people put the past behind them, and an interesting, undiscovered jewel name. It was regarded in…

Perpetua

Latin

"perpetual"

A 3rd century saint's name sometimes used in Catholic communities, and in Western European countries like Portugal and Italy.

Perrin

Variation of Perry or Peter, English or Greek

"dweller near the pear tree or rock, stone"

Perrin has been in long use as a surname, derived from Peter, and is now used quietly as a first name. It was given to 26 boys and six girls in the US in 2023, a decrease over the year before. It has…

Phemie

Phemie is a charming feminine name functioning primarily as a diminutive of Euphemia, which comes from Greek meaning 'well-spoken' or 'speech of good omen.' This shortened form offers a friendly,…

Philomena

Greek

"lover of strength"

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…

Phyllis

Greek

"green bough"

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,…

Pia

Feminine form of Pius or diminutive of Olympia, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit

"pious; from Mount Olympus; beloved"

Soft, light, and international, Pia is familiar across Europe, South America, and Asia. Usually considered a feminine form of the Latin Pius — lending it a surprisingly serious and spiritual air — it…

Plum

Fruit name

British-born novelist Plum Sykes has taken this rich, fruity name out of the produce section and put it into the baby name basket. It's more appealing than Apple, more presentable than Peaches. The…

Poet

English word name

A recently entered name on the roster, Poet was used for her daughter by Soleil Moon (Punky Brewster) Frye, who obviously appreciates the advantages of an unusual name. This is a possible middle name…

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…