Exploring Girl Names That Start With P
Flower names give you several places to begin. Compare Poppy, Primrose, and Peony, or explore Pearl for a gemstone association. If you prefer a name that expresses a quality or hope, consider Patience, Prudence, and Promise.
The historical lists bring another set of names into view. Patricia and Pauline each had uninterrupted runs of 50 - 99 years in the U.S. top 100. Phyllis, Peggy, and Paula each had runs lasting 30 - 49 years. More recent top-100 favorites include Penelope and Paisley.
Listen to the opening sound as you browse. Piper and Paige begin with a spoken P, while Phoebe and Philomena begin with an F sound. A shared first letter can still leave you with quite different names to compare.
Fun Facts About Girl Names Starting With P
- How popular is P? In 2025, 33,398 girls were recorded with names beginning with P - 2.08% of the published girls’ name records.
- Then and now: Girl names starting with P accounted for 2.89% of recorded girls' births from 1880 through 2025, compared with 2.08% in 2025.
- All-time favorites: Patricia, Pamela, Phyllis, Peggy, Paula lead this letter by total recorded births from 1880 through 2025.
- Moving up: Parthenia, Pricilla, Price, Preesha, Paisly gained the most ranking positions among P-names recorded in both 2024 and 2025.
- Rare finds: Palma, Patrice, Payne, Perfect, Petronila were each given to just 5-10 girls in 2025.
On this page:
Popular Girl Names That Start With P
These are the most popular girl names starting with P in 2025, ordered by their U.S. popularity rank.
Longtime Favorite Girl Names Starting With P
These names held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 50–99 consecutive years, remaining favorites across generations.
Established Favorite Girl Names That Start With P
These names spent 30–49 consecutive years in the U.S. top 100, building a lasting place among familiar favorites.
Rising Favorite Girl Names Starting With P
These names are gaining ground. Their current top-100 run spans fewer than 30 years, and their popularity rank improved in 2025.
Recent Favorite Girl Names That Start With P
These names belong to a newer generation of favorites. Their first and only top-100 run spans fewer than 30 years and continues in 2025.
Past Favorite Girl Names That Start With P
These names had more than one run in the U.S. top 100, but none continues in 2025. Browse favorites from earlier generations.
Unique Girl Names That Start With P
Looking for something less common? Browse uncommon girl names starting with P for more ideas.
Short Girl Names That Start With P
Prefer fewer letters? These short girl names starting with P keep the spelling compact.
Long Girl Names That Start With P
Explore longer girl names starting with P, especially if you enjoy a full name with room for a nickname.
Choosing Your Favorite Girl Name Starting With P
If you enjoy a longer name with a short everyday form, consider Penelope with Penny, or Philippa with Pippa. You may prefer having both options, or find that the shorter name is the one you want to use on its own.
Several popular choices offer different spellings. Compare Peyton, Payton, and Paityn, or look at Paisley, Paislee, and Paisleigh. Each spelling has its own entry and popularity record, so save the exact form you prefer.
Try your finalists with the middle and last names. A brief choice such as Pia or Pearl creates a different rhythm from Persephone or Paulina. Say the full combination aloud and consider which name you would most enjoy introducing and using each day.