Fun Facts About the Name Pershing
- 599 babies named Pershing: U.S. records list 599 babies given the name Pershing from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Pershing Mean?
Pershing is an English-language name used as a surname and, in the United States, as a given name. It is an Americanized spelling of a German surname usually recorded as Pfersching, also written Pfoersching. The origin of that German name is not securely established: it is often described as a habitational surname taken from a place name, but no single agreed literal meaning can be attached to it. Because the original derivation is uncertain, the honest summary of the meaning is that it is uncertain, rather than a translation such as a word for a place, an occupation, or a fruit.
Pershing Name History & Origins
Pershing entered English as a family name. German-speaking regions produced forms such as Pfersching and Pfoersching, and the spelling Pershing is the form the family used after settling in America, where the German pf and the ending were simplified to familiar English patterns.
The name is best known through John Joseph Pershing (1860 - 1948), the U.S. Army general who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. His family was of German descent. The surname's visibility in the twentieth century also comes from things named in the general's honor, among them the M26 Pershing tank, the Pershing missile, and Pershing County, Nevada.
As a given name, Pershing is used in the United States, generally for boys, and is uncommon. It follows the broader American practice of turning surnames into first names, particularly surnames connected to public figures.
How Popular is the Name Pershing?
Pershing recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1918. Its best rank was #334 in 1918.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | #3,923 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #3,595 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,611 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #2,626 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,439 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #3,236 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #3,053 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #3,168 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #3,142 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #2,628 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #3,627 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #4,812 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #3,393 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #4,202 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #2,351 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #1,411 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1919 | #595 | 103 | 0.0105% |
| 1918 | #334 | 295 | 0.0291% |
| 1917 | #882 | 53 | 0.0057% |
| 1915 | #2,577 | 10 | 0.0012% |
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 Pershing 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 find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Pershing's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Pershing's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.