Fun Facts About the Name Pet
- 20 babies named Pet: U.S. records list 20 babies given the name Pet from 1880 through 2025. The totals are evenly split between boys and girls.
What Does the Name Pet Mean?
Pet is an English given name used mainly as a short, familiar form of longer names beginning with Pet-, above all Petronilla and its variant Petronella. It also stands on its own as a name taken from the ordinary English word pet, which means a tame animal kept for company and pleasure and, by extension, a darling, favorite, or indulged person.
The English noun pet is first recorded in the 16th century in Scottish and northern English writing. Its origin is not settled. It is often connected with Scottish Gaelic peata, "a tame animal," and sometimes with Middle French petit, "small," but neither derivation has been proved.
Petronilla, the name Pet most often shortens, is a Roman diminutive of Petronia, the feminine of the family name Petronius. The origin of Petronius is uncertain; one old explanation derives it from Latin petro, "a country fellow." Because Christian tradition made Saint Petronilla a daughter of Saint Peter, the name was later understood as a feminine form of Peter, from Greek Petros and Aramaic kefa, "rock." That association is traditional rather than etymological, and it belongs to Petronilla, not to Pet itself.
Pet Name History & Origins
In the late 16th century the word pet began to be used in English as a fond form of address, especially to a woman or a child, and from that affectionate habit it passed into use as a personal name. It has rarely served as a formal name; it works instead as a nickname-style shortening of a longer name, which is how it is used in most English-speaking families.
The longer name it usually shortens, Petronilla, belonged to a Roman martyr venerated from late antiquity and remembered in the church calendar on 31 May. Medieval legend made her a daughter of Saint Peter, and devotion to her carried the name through western Europe, where it took different shapes: Pernelle in French, Petronella in Dutch and German, Pernilla in Swedish, and Pernel or Parnell in medieval England. The clipped English form Pet follows the same pattern as other familiar shortenings of long saints' names.
In the Netherlands, Pet and the diminutive Petje have served as everyday forms of Petronella. In English, Pet has also been used as a girl's name in its own right, and it survives as a term of affection that doubles as a name.
How Popular is the Name Pet?
Pet 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 1938. Its best rank was #1,454 in 1900.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | #5,604 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1900 | #2,166 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | #3,915 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1900 | #1,454 | 5 | 0.0033% |
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
Short Boy Names That Start with P
How the Name Pet 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 seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Pet's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Pet's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.