AHEAD: The ultimate list of P names for girls… and which could go viral this year.
If you’re looking for beautiful girl names that start with P, you’re in the right place!
I’ve rounded up every “P” name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.
Below you’ll find over 50 unique names, their meanings, and current popularities.
You’ll also find a shortlist of P names poised to go viral in 2025.
Related: Boy Names that Start with P
“P” names trending in 2025
These girls’ names starting with P are climbing the charts right now, each making significant gains since last year.
Paula
- Name meaning: Small.
- Popularity: #706 (↑99)
^ Surprising, right?!
Penny
- Name meaning: Weaver.
- Popularity: #676 (↑52)
Phoebe
- Name meaning: Shining one.
- Popularity: #191 (↑23)
Poppy 🔥
- Name meaning: Red flower.
- Popularity: #289 (↑50)
Promise
- Name meaning: Assurance.
- Popularity: #716 (↑66)
More on 2025 viral predictions in just a bit.
Popular girl names that start with P
These P names for girls are ranked in the top 1000.
Paige
- Name meaning: Helper.
- Popularity: #354
Paisley or Paislee
- Name meaning: A cute curved pattern.
- Popularity: The southern name Paisley ranks #56, Paislee ranks #545, and Paisleigh isn’t ranking.
Related: Middle Names for Paisley
Palmer
- Name meaning: A pilgrim who carried palm branches back from the Holy Land.
- Popularity: #277
Paloma
- Name meaning: Dove.
- Popularity: #980
Parker
- Name meaning: Park keeper.
- Popularity: This nonbinary P name ranks #121 for girls and #91 for boys.
Pearl
- Name meaning: Gem.
- Popularity: #805
Penelope
- Name meaning: Weaver.
- Popularity: #23
Related: Middle Names for Penelope
Persephone
- Name meaning: Greek mythology name. Bringer of death and destruction. Goddess of spring growth.
- Popularity: #745
Peyton or Payton
- Name meaning: Fighter’s estate.
- Popularity: Peyton ranks #142 for girls and #605 for boys. Payton also ranks #310 for girls, while Paityn isn’t ranking.
Phoenix
- Name meaning: A mythical bird that rises from the ashes and is born again.
- Popularity: This edgy name ranks #348 for girls and #269 for boys.
Piper
- Name meaning: Flute player.
- Popularity: #133
Related: Middle Names for Piper
Presley
- Name meaning: Priest.
- Popularity: #197
Vintage girl names that start with P
These old-fashioned P names for girls evoke the magic of another era.
Petra
- Name meaning: Rock or stone.
- Popularity: Popular in medieval Europe, this classic name isn’t ranking.
Philippa or Pippa
- Name meaning: Lover of horses.
- Popularity: Neither version of this Victorian name is ranking.
Philomena
- Name meaning: Lover of strength.
- Popularity: This 4-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Portia
- Name meaning: Pig. (But remember it as a character in a Shakespeare play instead).
- Popularity: This 6-letter Renaissance name isn’t ranking.
Primrose or Prim
- Name meaning: First rose.
- Popularity: Neither version of this Hunger Games-reminiscent name is ranking.
Prudence or Prue
- Name meaning: Careful.
- Popularity: Neither version of this P name is ranking.
Unique girl names that start with P
These P names for girls are a little different!
Pacey
- Name meaning: Unknown meaning.
- Popularity: This Dawson’s Creek-reminiscent P name isn’t ranking for either gender.
Parisa or Pari
- Name meaning: Like a fairy.
- Popularity: Neither version of this P name is ranking.
Paxton or Paxtyn
- Name meaning: Peace town.
- Popularity: Paxton ranks #257 for boys but isn’t ranking for girls. Paxtyn isn’t ranking for either gender.
Pepper
- Name meaning: Spice name.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Percy
- Name meaning: Piercing the valley.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking for either gender.
Peri
- Name meaning: Mountain dweller.
- Popularity: This short P name isn’t ranking.
Perrin
- Name meaning: Rock or pear tree.
- Popularity: This unique tree name isn’t ranking.
Pia
- Name meaning: Devout.
- Popularity: This 3-letter name isn’t ranking.
Portlyn
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Posy or Posie
- Name meaning: A small flower bouquet.
- Popularity: Neither spelling of this P name is ranking.
Prairie
- Name meaning: Large open grassland.
- Popularity: This two-syllable P name isn’t ranking. Cute middle name!
Prestyn
- Name meaning: Priest’s estate.
- Popularity: Preston ranks #275 for boys. Prestyn isn’t ranking for either gender.
Pria
- Name meaning: Agreeable or beloved.
- Popularity: This 4-letter name isn’t ranking.
“P” girl names that are past their prime
Most of these P names peaked in popularity in previous decades and, while definitely still usable, may feel less fresh than other options.
👉🏼 Jump ahead to 2025 viral predictions if you wish.
Pandora
- Name meaning: Gifted.
- Popularity: This space name isn’t ranking.
Paris
- Name meaning: The capital of France.
- Popularity: #493
Paulina
- Name meaning: Small.
- Popularity: #777
Princess
- Name meaning: Daughter of a king or queen.
- Popularity: #919
Priscilla
- Name meaning: Venerable or ancient.
- Popularity: #656
Here are a few more that aren’t ranking: Pamela, Patience, Patricia, Patrice, Patsy, Patti, Paulette, Pauline, Peggy, Phaedra, Phyllis, Prada
Will any girl names starting with P go viral in 2025?
Yes, I believe so!
There is one name that stands out among P names for girls…
Poppy
Since first appearing in the US top 1000 rankings in 2016 at #747, this cheerful botanical name has skyrocketed in popularity, rising to #289 in 2023.
That’s an incredible climb of 458 spots in just 7 years – and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
Already a top choice in the UK (ranked #11 in England), Poppy is now catching on with American parents who love its vintage charm and playful sound.
The name got an extra boost from the hit movie Trolls, where the main character Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) embodies joy and optimism.
Celebrity parents have also embraced it – Jamie Oliver chose it for his daughter Poppy Honey Rosie, and Jenna Bush Hager named her daughter Poppy Louise.
Fun fact: While 2023 saw 1,072 baby girls named Poppy in the US, that number represents just 0.061% of total female births – suggesting there’s still plenty of room for growth before it feels too common.
Nicknames for girl names starting with P
These are great if you love long names but want a shorter P-initial nickname.
👉🏼 Jump ahead to middle names if you wish.
Penny
Short for: Penelope
Pip
Short for: Piper, Philippa, Pippa
Polly
Short for: Paulina, Paula
Poppy
Short for: Penelope, Persephone
Prissy
Short for: Priscilla, Princess
Prue
Short for: Prudence, Promise
Nellie
Short for: Penelope
Sephie
Short for: Persephone
Lina
Short for: Paulina
Middle name ideas for girl names that start with P
Here are some beautiful first + middle name combinations for a first name with “P” as the first letter.
- Pacey Lennon
- Paige Abigail
- Paisley Reese
- Palmer Blakely
- Paloma Eve
- Pandora Sophie
- Pari Juliette
- Parker Madison
- Paxtyn Avery
- Pearl Victoria
- Penelope Sage
- Penny Hazel
- Percy Ava
- Peregrine Rose
- Peri Lennox
- Perrin Hartley
- Persephone Faye
- Petra Lavender
- Peyton Everly
- Phaedra Hart
Girl Names that Start with P: Trend Analysis
With just 23 names in the top 1000, the P initial represents a select group in the naming landscape, each with its own compelling story.
Penelope stands as the undisputed queen of P names at #23, setting the tone with its perfect blend of classical heritage and modern appeal.
Penelope’s success has created a halo effect, benefiting related names like Penny and even influencing parents’ openness to other Greek-origin choices.
Nature-inspired names like Poppy and Pearl reflect a growing connection to the natural world, while mythological selections such as Persephone and Phoenix appeal to parents seeking names with deep symbolic meaning.
Modern parents have particularly embraced surname-style options, with Parker (#121) and Palmer (#277) exemplifying the contemporary preference for gender-neutral choices. This style category shows no signs of slowing down.
What’s particularly interesting is how P names span such diverse style territories – from the buttoned-up traditional Priscilla to the bold, modern Phoenix.
Some names have found themselves caught between eras: Princess, despite its ranking at #919, feels stylistically disconnected from current naming preferences.
The future appears brightest for names that check multiple style boxes – think Poppy, which offers both nature connection and vintage charm, or Palmer, which works as both a surname choice and a subtle nature reference.
Intriguingly, despite P being a relatively uncommon initial, these names demonstrate remarkable staying power once they enter the top 1000. This suggests that when parents choose a P name, they’re making a deliberate style statement rather than following a fleeting trend.
Final thoughts on P girl names
Before you make your daughter’s name official, here are a few questions worth asking yourself:
-
- How often will others assume the wrong spelling of the name? If you go with Paisleigh, for example, most people will default to the spelling of Paisley until corrected. Think about whether this may bother your daughter one day.
- Will young kids be able to pronounce the name? It’s really common for little ones to have trouble pronouncing letters and sounds such as “R”, “S”, “L”, “Th”, and “Z”. Names like Presley and Prairie might be hard for your daughter and her friends to say for a few years. Again, think about whether this matters to you—it may not.
- Do her initials stand for anything undesirable? You might want to avoid the middle initials O and P, due to ‘pissed off’ and ‘pee-pee’. No matter what you choose, be sure to Google her initials before finalizing anything!
- Does the name (or nickname) have a slang meaning? I just read that Pippa (which is a super cute P name) has a sexual meaning in other countries. (You can look that one up).
- Is the name too similar to other living family members? If your dad’s nickname is Pops or Poppy, you might want to skip that name for your daughter to avoid confusion.
Ultimately, you and your partner should choose whichever girl name that starts with P that makes you the happiest. It’s a very personal decision that only you can make!
Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect P name for your baby girl!
The source for popularity data is SSN.
This article was originally published on Dec 27, 2021 and was updated on Jan 13, 2025.
Follow on Pinterest