Fun Facts About the Name Perkins
- 79 babies named Perkins: U.S. records list 79 babies given the name Perkins from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Perkins Mean?
Perkins is an English surname meaning "son of Perkin." It is a patronymic formed by adding the suffix -s, a survival of the old genitive ending meaning "of," to the Middle English personal name Perkin. Perkin itself was a diminutive of Per, a common medieval vernacular form of Peter. Peter descends through Latin Petrus and Greek Petros to the Aramaic word kefa, "rock," the name given to the apostle Simon. The diminutive ending -kin, common in Middle English, gives Perkin the sense "little Peter." So the surname literally identifies a bearer as the son or descendant of someone called Perkin.
Perkins Name History & Origins
Surnames of this patronymic type became fixed and hereditary in England during the late Middle Ages, from roughly the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries onward, as a growing population made inherited family names increasingly useful for identification. Peter was one of the most common given names in medieval England, both through the apostle and through everyday vernacular forms, and it produced many diminutives, including Per, Perkin, and the related Parkin. A man called Perkin's son would be recorded as Perkines or Perkins, and the -s ending preserves the genitive sense "of Perkin."
Spelling was unsettled in early records, and forms such as Perkyn, Perkyns, and Parkins appear alongside Perkins; the -kin ending is a Middle English diminutive of Germanic origin. As an English surname, Perkins traveled with English speakers to North America and other English-speaking regions, where it also became established as a given name in its own right. Closely related surnames include Parkin, Parkinson, and Perks, which grew from the same stock of pet forms of Peter.
How Popular is the Name Perkins?
Perkins has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1921. Its best rank was #2,932 in 1921.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,696 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,356 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1947 | #3,293 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,894 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1943 | #3,927 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1930 | #3,899 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #4,408 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #4,594 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,736 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,435 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #2,932 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #4,812 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #3,143 | 8 | 0.0009% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with P
How the Name Perkins Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Perkins's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Perkins's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.