Names Starting with P

gender
usage
Piotr m Polish, Belarusian
Polish and Belarusian form of Peter.
Pip m & f English
Diminutive of Philip or Philippa. This is the name of the main character in Great Expectations (1860) by Charles Dickens.
Pipaluk f Greenlandic
Means "sweet little thing who belongs to me" in Greenlandic.
Piper f English (Modern)
From an English surname that was originally given to a person who played on a pipe (a flute). It was popularized as a given name by a character from the television series Charmed, which debuted in 1998.
Pipin m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) form of Pepin.
Pippa f English
Diminutive of Philippa.
Pippi f Literature
Created by the daughter of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren for the main character in her mother's Pippi Longstocking series of stories, first published 1945. In the books Pippi (Swedish name Pippi Långstrump; full first name Pippilotta) is a brash and exceptionally strong young girl who lives in a house by herself.
Pippin 1 m Germanic
Old German form of Pepin. The 1972 musical Pippin is loosely based on the life of Charlemagne's eldest son Pepin the Hunchback.
Pippin 2 m Literature
The name of a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien. His full given name is Peregrin, a semi-translation into English of his true hobbit name Razanur meaning "traveller".
Pippo m Italian
Diminutive of Filippo or Giuseppe.
Pipra f Esperanto
From Esperanto pipro meaning "pepper".
Piran m Cornish
Possibly derived from Ciarán. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish monk who founded a monastery in Cornwall. He is the patron saint of Cornwall.
Piret f Estonian
Estonian form of Birgitta.
Piri f Hungarian
Diminutive of Piroska.
Piripi m Maori
Maori form of Philip.
Piritta f Finnish
Finnish form of Birgitta.
Pirjo f Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Piritta.
Pirkko f Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Piritta.
Pirooz m Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian پیروز (see Pirouz).
Piroska f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Prisca, influenced by the Hungarian word piros meaning "red".
Pirouz m Persian
Variant of Firouz.
Piruz m Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian پیروز (see Pirouz).
Pista m Hungarian
Diminutive of István.
Pisti m Hungarian
Diminutive of István.
Pistis f Greek Mythology
Means "trust, faith" in Greek. In Greek mythology Pistis was the personification of trust.
Pit m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Pitter.
Pitambar m Hindi
Modern form of Pitambara.
Pitambara m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit पीत (pīta) meaning "yellow" and अम्बर (ambara) meaning "garment". This is another name of the Hindu gods Vishnu or Krishna, given to them because yellow clothing is traditionally worn at religious events.
Pitikwahanapiwiyin m Cree (Anglicized)
From Cree ᐲᐦᑐᑲᐦᐊᓇᐱᐏᔨᐣ (Pîhtokahanapiwiyin) meaning "sits at the buffalo pound", derived from ᐲᐦᑐᑲᐦᐋᐣ (pîhtokahân) "buffalo pound, buffalo corral" and ᐊᐱᐤ (apiw) "sit". This was the name of a Plains Cree chief, also known as Poundmaker (1842-1886).
Pitsiulaaq f & m Inuit
Variant of Pittiulaaq.
Pitter m Frisian, Limburgish
Frisian and Limburgish form of Peter.
Pittiulaaq f & m Inuit
Means "black guillemot" in Inuktitut (a guillemot is a type of sea bird; species Cepphus grylle).
Pius m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "pious, dutiful". This was the name of twelve popes.
Pjetër m Albanian
Albanian form of Peter.
Placid m English (Rare)
English form of Placidus (see Placido).
Plácida f Spanish (Rare)
Spanish feminine form of Placidus (see Placido).
Placida f Late Roman, Italian (Rare)
Feminine form of Placidus (see Placido).
Placide m & f French
French masculine and feminine form of Placidus (see Placido).
Plácido m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Placidus (see Placido).
Placido m Italian
Italian form of the Late Latin name Placidus meaning "quiet, calm". Saint Placidus was a 6th-century Italian saint, a disciple of Saint Benedict.
Placidus m Late Roman
Latin form of Placido.
Plamen m Bulgarian, Serbian
Means "flame, fire" in South Slavic.
Plato m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πλάτων (Platon), which was derived from Greek πλατύς (platys) meaning "broad-shouldered". Plato was one of the most important of the Greek philosophers. He was a pupil of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle. He constructed the theory of Forms and wrote several works, including the Republic.
Pleasance f English (Archaic)
From the medieval name Plaisance, which meant "pleasant" in Old French.
Pleione f Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek πλείων (pleion) meaning "more, greater". According to Greek mythology Pleione was an Oceanid nymph who was the husband of Atlas. Together with her seven daughters and Atlas she forms the group of stars called the Pleiades, part of the constellation Taurus.
Pleun m & f Dutch
Diminutive of Apollonius, now commonly used as a feminine name.
Plínio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Plinius (see Pliny).
Plinio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Plinius (see Pliny).
Plinius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Pliny.
Pliny m History
From the Roman family name Plinius, which is of unknown meaning. Two 1st-century Romans are known by this name: Gaius Plinius Secundus (called Pliny the Elder), a scientist and historian who died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius; and Caius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (called Pliny the Younger), an author and statesman.
Plouton m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Pluto.
Plutarch m History
From the Greek name Πλούταρχος (Ploutarchos), which was derived from πλοῦτος (ploutos) meaning "riches, wealth" and ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". Plutarch was a 1st-century Greek historian.
Pluto m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Roman Mythology
Latinized form of Greek Πλούτων (Plouton), derived from πλοῦτος (ploutos) meaning "wealth". This was an alternate name of Hades, the god of the underworld. This is also the name of a dwarf planet (formerly designated the ninth planet) in the solar system.
Pnina f Hebrew
Means "pearl" in Hebrew.
Pocahontas f Powhatan (Anglicized)
Means "little playful one" in Powhatan, an Algonquian language. This was the nickname of a 17th-century Powhatan woman, a daughter of the powerful chief Wahunsenacawh. She married the white colonist John Rolfe and travelled with him to England, but died of illness before returning.
Poghos m Armenian
Armenian form of Paul.
Pól m Irish
Irish form of Paul.
Pòl m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Paul.
Pol m Catalan
Catalan form of Paul.
Pola f Polish
Short form of Apolonia.
Polat m Turkish
Turkish form of Bolat.
Poldi m German
German diminutive of Leopold.
Poli f Bulgarian
Short form of Polina.
Polikarp m Russian (Rare), Ukrainian (Rare)
Russian and Ukrainian form of Polycarp.
Polina f Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Greek
Either a Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Greek form of Paulina or a short form of Apollinariya.
Pollie f English
Variant of Polly.
Pollux m Roman Mythology
Roman form of Greek Πολυδεύκης (Polydeukes) meaning "very sweet", from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and δευκής (deukes) meaning "sweet". In mythology he was the twin brother of Castor and a son of Zeus. The constellation Gemini, which represents the two brothers, contains a star by this name.
Polly f English
Medieval variant of Molly. The reason for the change in the initial consonant is unknown.
Pollyanna f Literature
Combination of Polly and Anna. This was the name of the main character in Eleanor H. Porter's novel Pollyanna (1913).
Polona f Slovene
Short form of Apolonija.
Polonius m Literature
From Latin Polonia meaning "Poland". In Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet (1600) this is the name of the counsellor to Claudius and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. He is accidentally murdered by Hamlet.
Polya f Bulgarian
Diminutive of Polina.
Polycarp m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Πολύκαρπος (Polykarpos) meaning "fruitful, rich in fruit", ultimately from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and καρπός (karpos) meaning "fruit". Saint Polycarp was a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna who was martyred by being burned at the stake and then stabbed.
Polycrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πολυκράτης (Polykrates) meaning "much power", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This name was borne by a 6th-century BC ruler of the Greek island of Samos.
Polykarpos m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Polycarp.
Polymnia f Greek Mythology
Means "abounding in song", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and ὕμνος (hymnos) meaning "song, hymn". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of dance and sacred songs, one of the nine Muses.
Polyphemos m Greek Mythology
Means "abounding in fame", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and φήμη (pheme) meaning "rumour, fame, reputation". In Greek mythology this was the name of the cyclops who captured Odysseus and his crew, as told in the Odyssey. He ate several of the crew before Odysseus blinded him and orchestrated an escape.
Polyphonte f Greek Mythology
Means "slayer of many", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder, slaughter". In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who was transformed into a strix (an owl-like bird) after she had sons with a bear.
Polyxena f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Πολυξένη (Polyxene), which was from the word πολύξενος (polyxenos) meaning "entertaining many guests, very hospitable", itself derived from πολύς (polys) meaning "many" and ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest". In Greek legend she was a daughter of Priam and Hecuba, beloved by Achilles. After the Trojan War, Achilles' son Neoptolemus sacrificed her.
Polyxene f Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of Polyxena.
Polyxeni f Greek
Modern Greek form of Polyxena.
Pomare m & f Tahitian
Means "night cough", from Tahitian "night" and mare "cough". This name was borne by four kings and a queen of Tahiti. The first king adopted the name after his child died of a cough in the night.
Pomona f Roman Mythology
From Latin pomus "fruit tree". This was the name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees.
Pompeia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Pompeius.
Pompeius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Pompey.
Pompeo m Italian
Italian form of Pompeius (see Pompey).
Pompey m History
Modern form of the Roman family name Pompeius, which was probably derived from a Sabellic word meaning "five". A notable bearer was the 1st-century BC Roman general Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey the Great. Initially an ally of Julius Caesar, he later fought against him in the Roman civil war of 49-45 BC.
Pompiliu m Romanian
Romanian form of the Roman name Pompilius, which is of unknown meaning, possibly a derivative of Pompeius (see Pompey). Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome (after Romulus).
Pomponia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Pomponius.
Pomponius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that is of unknown meaning, possibly a derivative of Pompeius (see Pompey).
Poncio m Spanish (Rare)
Spanish form of Pontius.
Pons m French (Rare)
French form of Pontius.
Pontius m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Roman family name. The family had Samnite roots so the name probably originated from the Oscan language, likely meaning "fifth" (a cognate of Latin Quintus). Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of the ancient province of Pontus in Asia Minor, itself probably from Greek πόντος (pontos) meaning "sea". A notable bearer of this name was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who appears in the New Testament.
Pontus 1 m Swedish
Possibly a form of Pontius. It was brought to Sweden by the French general Pontus De la Gardie, who served under the Swedish king John III.
Pontus 2 m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Πόντος (Pontos) meaning "sea". This was the name of a Greek god of the sea. He was the son of Gaia.
Ponzio m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Pontius.
Pooja f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Nepali
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi/Nepali पूजा, Gujarati પૂજા, Bengali পূজা, Gurmukhi ਪੂਜਾ, Telugu పూజా, Malayalam പൂജ, Tamil பூஜா or Kannada ಪೂಜಾ (see Puja).
Poornima f Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Tamil பூர்ணிமா, Kannada ಪೂರ್ಣಿಮಾ or Hindi/Marathi पूर्णिमा (see Purnima).
Popeye m Popular Culture
Created by Elzie Crisler Segar in 1929 for a sailor character in his comic strip Thimble Theatre, later renamed Popeye. He presumably based it on the English words pop and eye.
Poppy f English
From the word for the red flower, derived from Old English popæg.
Porcia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Porcius.
Porcius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name meaning "pig", derived from Latin porcus. Famous members of the family include the Roman statesmen Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) and his great-grandson Cato the Younger (Marcus Porcius Cato Uticencis).
Porfirio m Spanish, Italian (Rare)
Derived from the Greek name Πορφύριος (Porphyrios), which was derived from the word πορφύρα (porphyra) meaning "purple dye". This was the name of several early saints.
Porfiriy m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Porphyrios (see Porfirio).
Porfyriy m Ukrainian (Rare)
Ukrainian form of Porphyrios (see Porfirio).
Porntip f Thai
Means "divine blessing", derived from Thai พร (phon) meaning "blessing" and ทิพย์ (thip) meaning "divine".
Porphyrios m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Porfirio.
Porsche f English (Modern)
From the name of the German car company, which was founded by Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951).
Porter m English
From an occupational English surname meaning "doorkeeper", ultimately from Old French porte "door", from Latin porta.
Portia f English
Variant of Porcia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Porcius, used by William Shakespeare for the heroine of his play The Merchant of Venice (1596). In the play Portia is a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to defend Antonio in court. It is also the name of a moon of Uranus, after the Shakespearean character.
Poseidon m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πόσις (posis) meaning "husband, lord" and δᾶ (da) meaning "earth". The name first appears in Mycenaean Greek inscriptions as po-se-da-o. In Greek mythology Poseidon was the unruly god of the sea and earthquakes, the brother of Zeus. He was often depicted carrying a trident and riding in a chariot drawn by white horses.
Posie f English
Variant of Posy.
Postumus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "last" in Latin, postumus being the superlative of posterus meaning "next". It was sometimes given to children born after the death of their father. It was also a nomen and cognomen. A notable bearer was the Roman commander Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, usually known simply as Postumus, who established the breakaway Gallic Empire in the 3rd century.
Posy f English
Diminutive of Josephine. It can also be inspired by the English word posy for a bunch of flowers.
Potsʉnakwahipʉ m Comanche
Means "male bison back" in Comanche, derived from potsʉ "male bison" and kwahi "back (body part)". This name was borne by a 19th-century war chief of the Penateka Comanche, also called Buffalo Hump.
Poul m Danish
Danish form of Paul.
Poyraz m Turkish
Means "north" or "north wind" in Turkish, derived from Greek Βορέας (Boreas).
Prabhakara m Sanskrit
Means "light maker", derived from Sanskrit प्रभा (prabhā) meaning "light" and कर (kara) meaning "maker". In Hindu scripture this term is used to refer to the sun and the moon. A notable bearer of this name was a 6th-century scholar from Kerala.
Prabhat m Hindi
Means "shining forth, morning" in Sanskrit, derived from प्रभा (prabhā) meaning "to shine".
Prabhu m Hinduism, Tamil, Kannada
Means "mighty, powerful, master" in Sanskrit. In the Rigveda this is an epithet of both the Hindu gods Surya and Agni.
Prabodh m Hindi
Means "awakening" in Sanskrit.
Prachi f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit प्राच्य (prācya) meaning "eastern, ancient".
Pradip m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit प्रदीप (pradīpa) meaning "light, lantern".
Prahalad m Hindi
Variant of Prahlad.
Prahlada m Hinduism
Means "joy, pleasure, delight" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu text the Bhagavata Purana this is a prince saved by Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu.
Praise f & m English (African)
From the English word praise, which is ultimately derived (via Old French) from Late Latin preciare, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth". This name is most common in English-speaking Africa.
Prakash m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit प्रकाश (prakāśa) meaning "light, bright, shining".
Pramod m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada
Modern form of Pramoda.
Pramoda m Hinduism
Means "joy" in Sanskrit. It appears briefly in the Mahabharata belonging to an attendant of the Hindu god Skanda.
Pran m Hindi
From Sanskrit प्राण (prāṇa) meaning "breath".
Pranab m Bengali, Assamese
Bengali and Assamese form of Pranav.
Pranas m Lithuanian
Short form of Pranciškus.
Pranav m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
This is the Sanskrit word referring to ओम् (om), the Hindu sacred syllable.
Pranay m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रणय (praṇaya) meaning "leader, guidance, love".
Pranciška f Lithuanian
Lithuanian feminine form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Pranciškus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Pranee f Thai
Means "living being, one that breathes" in Thai, of Sanskrit origin.
Pranvera f Albanian
Derived from Albanian pranverë meaning "spring", itself from pranë "nearby, close" and verë "summer".
Prasad m Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Odia, Bengali, Nepali
From Sanskrit प्रसाद (prasāda) meaning "brightness, clearness, graciousness, offering". This is a word referring to an offering of food made to a deity.
Prasanna m Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Odia, Hindi
Means "clear, bright, tranquil" in Sanskrit.
Prasenjit m Bengali
Means "conqueror of an expert army" in Sanskrit.
Prasert m Thai
Means "excellent, superb" in Thai.
Prashant m Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Bengali
From Sanskrit प्रशान्त (praśānta) meaning "calm, quiet".
Prashanth m Tamil
Tamil form of Prashant.
Praskovia f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Прасковья (see Praskovya).
Praskoviya f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Прасковья (see Praskovya).
Praskovya f Russian
Russian form of Paraskeve.
Pratap m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रताप (pratāpa) meaning "heat, splendour, glory".
Prateek m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi प्रतीक, Gujarati પ્રતિક or Bengali প্রতীক (see Pratik).
Pratibha f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रतिभा (pratibhā) meaning "light, splendour, intelligence".
Pratik m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali
From Sanskrit प्रतीक (pratīka) meaning "look, appearance".
Pratima f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रतिमा (pratimā) meaning "image, likeness, reflection".
Praveena f Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Pravina.
Pravina f Marathi, Tamil
Feminine form of Pravin.
Praxidike f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πρᾶξις (praxis) meaning "action, exercise" and δίκη (dike) meaning "justice, custom, order". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of lawful punishment. This is also the name of a small moon of Jupiter.
Praxis f Greek Mythology
Means "action, sex" in Greek. This was another name for the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Praxiteles m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements πρᾶξις (praxis) meaning "action, exercise" and τέλος (telos) meaning "purpose, result, completion". This was the name of a 4th-century BC sculptor from Athens.
Preben m Danish, Norwegian
Modern Danish form of the name Pridbjørn, which was an old Scandinavian form of the Slavic (Wendish) name Predbor or Pridbor, which was possibly derived from Slavic perdŭ "first, in front of" and borti "to fight". It was imported into Danish via the medieval Putbus family, who were Slavic nobles from Rügen in Pomerania.
Precious f English (African), African American (Modern)
From the English word precious, ultimately derived from Latin pretiosus, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth".
Predbor m Medieval Slavic
Earlier Slavic form of Preben.
Predrag m Serbian, Croatian
Derived from the Slavic element dorgŭ meaning "precious" combined with a superlative prefix.
Preecha m Thai
Means "intelligence, wisdom" in Thai.
Preethi f Kannada, Tamil
South Indian form of Priti.
Preeti f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
Alternate transcription of Hindi प्रीति or प्रीती, Marathi प्रीती or Gujarati પ્રીતિ (see Priti).
Prem m Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Nepali
From Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection".
Prema f Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Nepali, Hindi
Feminine form of Prem.
Přemek m Czech
Diminutive of Přemysl.
Přemysl m Czech
From an Old Slavic name that meant "trick, stratagem", from the prefix pre "over, again, very" and myslĭ "thought, idea". This was the name of the legendary founder of the Přemyslid dynasty, which ruled Bohemia from the 9th to the 14th century.
Presentación f Spanish
Means "presentation, appearance" in Spanish. This name commemorates the tale of the presentation of the young Virgin Mary at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Presley f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "priest clearing" (Old English preost and leah). This surname was borne by musician Elvis Presley (1935-1977).
Preston m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "priest town" (Old English preost and tun).
Priam m Greek Mythology (Anglicized)
From the Greek Πρίαμος (Priamos), possibly meaning "redeemed". In Greek legend Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and the father of many children including Hector and Paris.
Priamos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Priam.
Priapus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a Greek god of fertility, gardens, and the phallus.
Price m English
From a Welsh surname that was derived from ap Rhys meaning "son of Rhys".
Pridbjørn m Old Danish
Old Danish form of Preben.
Pridon m Georgian
Georgian form of Fereydoun. It appears in the 12th-century Georgian epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin, in which Pridon (fully Nuradin-Pridon) is a friend of Avtandil and Tariel.
Pridoni m Georgian
Form of Pridon with the nominative suffix, used when the name is written stand-alone.
Priidik m Estonian
Estonian form of Frederick.
Priit m Estonian
Short form of Priidik.
Priita f Finnish (Rare)
Finnish form of Brita.
Primitiva f Spanish, Late Roman
Feminine form of Primitivus. Saint Primitiva was an early martyr from Rome.
Primitivo m Spanish
Spanish form of Primitivus.
Primitivus m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "first formed". Saint Primitivus was a 3rd-century Spanish martyr.
Primo m Italian
Italian form of the Late Latin name Primus, which meant "first". This was the name of three early saints, each of whom was martyred.
Primož m Slovene
Slovene form of Primus (see Primo).
Primrose f English (Rare)
From the English word for the flower, ultimately deriving from Latin prima rosa "first rose".
Primula f English (Rare), Italian (Rare)
From the name of a genus of several species of flowers, including the primrose. It is derived from the Latin word primulus meaning "very first".
Primus m Late Roman
Original Latin form of Primo.
Prince m English
From the English word prince, a royal title, which comes ultimately from Latin princeps. This name was borne by the American musician Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016), who is known simply as Prince.
Princess f English (Modern)
Feminine equivalent of Prince.
Princeton m English (Modern)
From the name of the town or university in New Jersey. Established in the early 18th century, it is said to have been named for William III, the Prince of Orange.
Pris f English
Short form of Priscilla.
Prisca f Biblical, Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin
Feminine form of Priscus, a Roman family name meaning "ancient" in Latin. This name appears in the epistles in the New Testament, referring to Priscilla the wife of Aquila.
Priscila f Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Priscilla.
Priscilla f English, Italian, French, Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Roman name, a diminutive of Prisca. In Acts in the New Testament Paul lived with Priscilla (also known as Prisca) and her husband Aquila in Corinth for a while. It has been used as an English given name since the Protestant Reformation, being popular with the Puritans. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used it in his 1858 poem The Courtship of Miles Standish.
Priscille f French
French form of Priscilla.
Priscus m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Prisca.
Priska f German, Biblical Greek
German form of Prisca, as well as the form used in the Greek New Testament.
Priskilla f Biblical Greek
Form of Priscilla used in the Greek New Testament.
Prissy f English
Diminutive of Priscilla.
Pritha f Hinduism, Bengali
Means "the palm of the hand" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the legendary Hindu figure Kunti.
Prithvi m & f Hindi, Nepali, Hinduism
From Sanskrit पृथ्वी (pṛthvī) meaning "earth", derived from पृथु (pṛthu) meaning "wide, vast". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, a personification of the earth in the Rigveda. She is the consort of the sky god Dyaus. When used as a given name in modern times it is typically masculine.
Priti f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit प्रीति (prīti) meaning "pleasure, joy, love".
Priya f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali
Means "beloved" in Sanskrit. It appears briefly in the Puranas belonging to a daughter of King Daksha.
Priyanka f Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali
From Sanskrit प्रियंकर (priyaṃkara) meaning "agreeable, amiable".
Prochorus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Πρόχορος (Prochoros) meaning "leader of the dance". Saint Prochorus was one of the original seven deacons of the church, as told in Acts in the New Testament.
Proinsias m Irish
Irish form of Francis.
Prokhor m Russian
Russian form of Prochorus.
Prokop m Czech
Czech form of Prokopios.
Prokopios m Greek, Late Greek
Derived from Greek προκοπή (prokope) meaning "progress, advance". Saint Prokopios was an early Christian martyr who was beheaded in Palestine during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Prokopis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Prokopios.
Prokopiy m Russian
Russian form of Prokopios.
Prokopy m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Прокопий (see Prokopiy).
Prometheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek προμήθεια (prometheia) meaning "foresight, forethought". In Greek myth he was the Titan who gave the knowledge of fire to mankind. For doing this he was punished by Zeus, who had him chained to a rock and caused an eagle to feast daily on his liver, which regenerated itself each night. Herakles eventually freed him.
Promise f & m English (African)
From the English word promise, from Latin promissum. It is currently most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
Proscovia f Eastern African
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to Praskovya. It is mainly used in Uganda.
Prosdocimus m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Προσδόκιμος (Prosdokimos) meaning "expected, looked for". The 1st-century saint Prosdocimus was the first bishop of Padua.
Prosenjit m Bengali
Alternate transcription of Bengali প্রসেনজিৎ (see Prasenjit).
Proserpina f Roman Mythology
Means "to emerge" in Latin. She was the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Persephone.
Prosper m French, English
From the Latin name Prosperus, which meant "fortunate, successful". This was the name of a 5th-century saint, a supporter of Saint Augustine. It has never been common as an English name, though the Puritans used it, partly because it is identical to the English word prosper.
Próspero m Spanish (Rare)
Spanish form of Prosper.
Prospero m Italian
Italian form of Prosper. This is the name of the main character, a shipwrecked magician, in The Tempest (1611) by William Shakespeare.
Prosperus m Late Roman
Latin form of Prosper.
Prossy f Eastern African
Diminutive of Proscovia, mainly used in Uganda.
Proteus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πρῶτος (protos) meaning "first". In Greek mythology this was the name of a prophetic god of the sea. Shakespeare later utilized it for a character in his play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Pru f English
Short form of Prudence.
Prudence f & m English, French
Medieval English form of Prudentia, the feminine form of Prudentius. In France it is both the feminine form and a rare masculine form. In England it was used during the Middle Ages and was revived in the 17th century by the Puritans, in part from the English word prudence, ultimately of the same source.
Prudencia f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Prudentius.
Prudencio m Spanish
Spanish form of Prudentius.
Prudentia f Late Roman
Feminine form of Prudentius.
Prudentius m Late Roman
Late Latin name derived from prudens "prudent, wise, skilled". This was the name of a 9th-century bishop of Troyes. He is considered a local saint there.
Prue f English
Short form of Prudence.
Prune f French
Means "plum" in French.
Prunella f English (Rare)
From the English word for the type of flower, also called self-heal, ultimately a derivative of the Latin word pruna "plum".
Prvoslav m Serbian
Derived from the Slavic elements pĭrvŭ "first" and slava "glory, fame".
Pryce m Welsh
Variant of Price.
Pryderi m Welsh, Welsh Mythology
From Welsh pryder meaning "care, worry" (or perhaps from a derivative word *pryderi meaning "loss"). Appearing in Welsh legend in all four branches of the Mabinogi, Pryderi was the son of Pwyll and Rhiannon, eventually succeeding his father as the king of Dyfed. He was one of only seven warriors to return from Brân's tragic invasion of Ireland, and later had several adventures with Manawydan. He was ultimately killed in single combat with Gwydion during the war between Dyfed and Gwynedd.
Przemek m Polish
Diminutive of Przemysław.
Przemko m Polish
Diminutive of Przemysław.
Przemo m Polish
Diminutive of Przemysław.
Przemysł m Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Přemysl. This was the name of a 13th-century king of Poland.
Przemysław m Polish
Medieval variant of Przemysł, with the addition of the Slavic element slava "glory".
Psamathe f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ψάμαθος (psamathos) meaning "sand of the seashore". This was the name of several characters in Greek mythology, including one of the Nereids. One of the small moons of Neptune is named after her.
Psyche f Greek Mythology
Means "the soul", derived from Greek ψύχω (psycho) meaning "to breathe". The Greeks thought that the breath was the soul. In Greek mythology Psyche was a beautiful maiden who was beloved by Eros (or Cupid in Roman mythology). She is the subject of Keats's poem Ode to Psyche (1819).
Ptah m Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian ptḥ meaning "opener, creator". Ptah was an Egyptian god associated with creation and the arts.
Ptolemaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ptolemaios (see Ptolemy).
Ptolemais f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Ptolemaios (see Ptolemy).
Ptolemy m History
From the Greek name Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaios), derived from Greek πολεμήϊος (polemeios) meaning "aggressive, warlike". Ptolemy was the name of several Greco-Egyptian rulers of Egypt, all descendants of Ptolemy I Soter, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. This was also the name of a 2nd-century Greek astronomer.
Pu'a f Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Puah.
Pua f & m Hawaiian
Means "flower, offspring" in Hawaiian.
Puabi f Akkadian
Means "word of my father", from Akkadian meaning "mouth" and abu meaning "father". Puabi was a 26th-century BC Akkadian noblewoman who was buried in the Sumerian city of Ur.
Puah f Biblical
Meaning uncertain. According to the Old Testament, Puah and Shiphrah were midwives who refused Pharaoh's orders to kill any Hebrew boys they delivered.
Pualani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flower" or "royal offspring" from Hawaiian pua "flower, offspring" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Puanani f Hawaiian
Means "beautiful flower" or "beautiful offspring" from Hawaiian pua "flower, offspring" and nani "beauty, glory".
Publius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "public" in Latin. This was among the more common of the Roman praenomina, being borne by (among others) the emperor Hadrian and the poet Virgil.
Puck m & f Anglo-Saxon Mythology, Dutch
Meaning unknown, from Old English puca. It could ultimately be of either Germanic or Celtic origin. In English legend this was the name of a mischievous spirit, also known as Robin Goodfellow. He appears in Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595). It is used in the Netherlands as mainly a feminine name.
Puja f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Nepali
From Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā) meaning "honour, worship". This is the name of a Hindu ritual of reverence.
Puk f Dutch
Dutch variant of Puck.
Puleng f Sotho
Means "in the rain" in Sotho.
Pumay m Semitic Mythology
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a relatively obscure Phoenician deity, possibly of Cypriot origin.
Pumayyaton m Phoenician
Phoenician form of Pygmalion.
Puneet m Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi पुनीत (see Punit).
Punit m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit पुनीत (punīta) meaning "cleaned, purified".
Punita f Hindi, Marathi
Feminine form of Punit.
Pura f Spanish
From Spanish pura meaning "pure", also used as a diminutive of Purificación.
Purdie m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the Norman French expression pur die "by God". It was perhaps originally a nickname for a person who used the oath frequently.
Purificación f Spanish
Means "purification" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the ritual purification of the Virgin Mary after her childbirth.
Purnama f & m Indonesian
Means "full moon" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पूर्णिमा (pūrṇimā).
Purnima f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada
From Sanskrit पूर्णिमा (pūrṇimā) meaning "full moon".
Purushottama m Hinduism
Means "the highest man" from Sanskrit पुरुष (puruṣa) meaning "man" and उत्तम (uttama) meaning "highest". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatars Krishna and Rama.
Pushpa f & m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali
From Sanskrit पुष्प (puṣpa) meaning "flower". This is a transcription of both the feminine form पुष्पा and the masculine form पुष्प. Especially in Nepal it is frequently masculine.
Putera m Malay
Means "son, prince" in Malay, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्र (putra).
Puteri f Malay
Means "daughter, princess" in Malay, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्री (putrī).
Putra m Indonesian
Means "son" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्र (putra).
Putri f Indonesian
Means "daughter" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्री (putrī).