AHEAD: The ultimate list of girl names that start with P.
If you’re looking for a beautiful girls’ name starting with the letter P, you’re in the right place!
Below, I’ve rounded up every single “P” name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.
I’ve also included each name’s meaning and current popularity—which will hopefully help you narrow down your list of favorites.
Penelope is by far the top-ranking P name.
There are four P names in the top 100, only one in the top 200, and 6 in the top 300.
There are 26 P names in the top 1000. (When you consolidate spelling variations, this number shrinks to 22.)
There are quite a few names that I was surprised to see ranking in the top 1000, such as Paula, which I think of as really outdated.
There’s also a pretty awful (IMHO) spelling variation of Peyton, “Paityn”, ranking in the top 1000.
Seeing Persephone in the top 1000 was another surprise. Not only does this P name feel totally obscure, but it has the strangest of meanings, which you’ll see below.
Without further ado, let’s go check out these baby name ideas and find the perfect one for your daughter.
Feel free to use the Table of Contents to jump to a specific style, or keep on scrolling and view all of these pretty P girl names.
Related: Boy Names that Start with P
Popular “P” names
All of these modern “P” girl names are popular in the United States right now, ranking in the top 300.
Paige or Page
- Name meaning: Helper.
- Popularity: Paige ranks #273 and Page is not ranking.
Paisley or Paislee or Paisleigh
- Name meaning: A cute curved pattern.
- Popularity: The southern name Paisley ranks #50, Paislee ranks #378, and Paisleigh ranks #863.
Parker
- Name meaning: Park keeper.
- Popularity: This nonbinary P name ranks #128 for girls and #95 for boys.
Penelope
- Name meaning: Weaver.
- Popularity: #25
Peyton or Payton or Paityn
- Name meaning: Fighter’s estate.
- Popularity: The badass name Peyton ranks #98 for girls and #430 for boys. Payton is #218 and Paityn is #984 for girls.
Phoebe
- Name meaning: Shining one.
- Popularity: #256
Phoenix
- Name meaning: A mythical bird that rises from the ashes and is born again.
- Popularity: This edgy name ranks #286 for girls and #238 for boys.
Piper
- Name meaning: Flute player.
- Popularity: #91
Presley
- Name meaning: Priest.
- Popularity: #213
If you like these trendy girl names that start with P you might also like this list of middle names for Penelope or these middle names for Piper.
Nature “P” names for girls
All of these organic “P” girl names are inspired by trees, plants, the ocean, and the earth.
Palmer
- Name meaning: She who holds the palm. A pilgrim who carried palm branches back from the Holy Land.
- Popularity: #347
Peri
- Name meaning: Mountain dweller.
- Popularity: This short P name isn’t ranking.
Poppy
- Name meaning: Red flower.
- Popularity: #462
Portia
- Name meaning: Pig. (But remember it as a character in a Shakespeare play instead).
- Popularity: This outer space name is not currently ranking in the top 1000.
Posy or Posie
- Name meaning: A small flower bouquet.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Prairie
- Name meaning: Large open grassland.
- Popularity: This two-syllable P name isn’t ranking.
Primrose or Prim
- Name meaning: First rose.
- Popularity: This Hunger Games-reminiscent name is not currently ranking.
If you like these girl names with P as the first letter you might also like this list of hippie names or these tree names for girls.
Vintage “P” names for girls
Here are some old-fashioned P names for girls that evoke the magic of another era.
Pearl
- Name meaning: Gem.
- Popularity: #773
Penny
- Name meaning: Weaver.
- Popularity: #727
Philippa or Pippa
- Name meaning: Lover of horses. (Pippa is short for Philippa).
- Popularity: Neither version of this old-fashioned P name is ranking.
Philomena
- Name meaning: Lover of strength.
- Popularity: This long girls’ name isn’t ranking.
Prudence
- Name meaning: Careful.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
If you like these vintage P girl names you might also like this list of Victorian names or these elegant girl names.
Unique “P” names for girls
All of these unique girl names that start with P are interesting and uncommon.
Pacey
- Name meaning: Unknown meaning.
- Popularity: This Dawson’s Creek-reminiscent P name is not ranking for either gender.
Paloma
- Name meaning: Dove.
- Popularity: #940
Pandora
- Name meaning: Gifted.
- Popularity: This girls’ space name isn’t ranking.
Pari
- Name meaning: Equal or fairy.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Paxton or Paxtyn
- Name meaning: Peace town.
- Popularity: Paxton ranks #252 for boys but isn’t ranking for girls. Paxtyn isn’t ranking for either gender.
Percy
- Name meaning: Piercing the valley.
- Popularity: This potentially gender-neutral name isn’t ranking for boys or girls.
Peregrine
- Name meaning: Having the tendency to wander. One from abroad. A powerful falcon.
- Popularity: This three-syllable P name isn’t ranking.
Perrin
- Name meaning: Rock or pear tree.
- Popularity: This unique tree name isn’t ranking.
Persephone
- Name meaning: Greek mythology name. Bringer of death and destruction. Goddess of spring growth.
- Popularity: #820
Petra
- Name meaning: Rock or stone.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Phaedra
- Name meaning: Bright. Greek mythology name.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Pia
- Name meaning: Devout.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Pixie
- Name meaning: Fairy.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Portlyn
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Prestyn
- Name meaning: Priest’s estate.
- Popularity: Preston ranks #226 for boys. Prestyn isn’t ranking for either gender.
Pria
- Name meaning: Agreeable or beloved.
- Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.
Prue
- Name meaning: Good judgment.
- Popularity: This one-syllable P name isn’t ranking.
If you like unique P girl names, you might also like this list of edgy names.
“P” girl names that are past their prime
Even though all of the following names are ranking in the top 1000, I personally think they’ve seen better days.
Paola
- Name meaning: Small.
- Popularity: #955
Paris
- Name meaning: The capital of France.
- Popularity: #419
Paula
- Name meaning: Small.
- Popularity: #822
Paulina
- Name meaning: Small.
- Popularity: #826
Princess
- Name meaning: Daughter of a king or queen.
- Popularity: #797
Priscilla
- Name meaning: Venerable or ancient.
- Popularity: #562
Promise
- Name meaning: Assurance.
- Popularity: #855
Here are a few more that aren’t currently ranking:
- Pamela
- Patience
- Patrice
- Patricia
- Patsy
- Patti
- Paulette
- Pauline
- Peggy
- Phyllis
- Prada
(Of course, if you happen to love any one of these “P” girl names, you should choose it for your daughter and forget what I think!)
More baby names for girls
Before we get to middle name ideas, here are a few related articles that may be helpful if you’re still looking for the perfect name.
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
- Philippa Ruby
- Philomena Marie
- Phoebe Aria
- Phoenix Jade
- Pia Mackenzie
- Piper Harlow
- Pippa Everleigh
- Pixie Charlotte
- Poppy Brooke
- Portia Hadley
- Portlyn Lennox
- Posie Alexandra
Final thoughts on P girl names
Before you make your daughter’s name official, here are a few questions worth asking yourself:
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- 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!
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