34 Baby Names That Start With the Letter "P"

Thematic baby names can be so much fun in a family. What's even more fun about it is that the theme options are practically endless. You could name your children after the time of year they're born or perhaps after your favorite flowers. Some families may opt to pass down family names, staying on theme with a side of tradition.

One fun theme families opt for is going by letters. Whether you want all the names to start with the same letter or you want a specific pattern to follow, having a list of names to start with can help. If the letter "P" is what you're after, there are a lot of popular names as well as unique baby names to choose from.

Pablo

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Small
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paul
• Famous Namesakes: Notable painter Pablo Picasso is one of the most well-known people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Pablo reached its highest popularity in 2005.

Padma

• Origin: Indian
• Meaning: Lotus
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Padme
• Famous Namesakes: Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is one of the most notable people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Padma does not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S.

Paige

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Assistant
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Page
• Peak Popularity: Paige was most popular in the early 2000s.

Paisley

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: Church
• Famous Namesakes: You might see Paisley as a last name, like singer Brad Paisley.
• Peak Popularity: Paisley's biggest year was 2017.

Pamela

• Origin: English
• Meaning: All honey
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pam
• Famous Namesakes: Actresses Pamela Anderson and Pamela Sue Martin
• Peak Popularity: Pamela was a popular name in the 1950s.

Pancho

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Free
• Famous Namesakes: Key figure in the Mexican Revolution, Pancho Villa
• Peak Popularity: Pancho has not appeared on the most popular baby names list in the U.S.

Pansy

• Origin: American
• Meaning: Violet flower
• Famous Namesakes: You might recall Pansy Parkinson from Harry Potter.
• Peak Popularity: Pansy was a popular name in the early 1900s.

Paolo

• Origin: Italian
• Meaning: Small
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paul
• Famous Namesakes: Soccer players Paolo Maldini and Paolo Rossi
• Peak Popularity: Paolo does not appear on the popular names list in the U.S.

Parker

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Park keeper
• Famous Namesakes: Parker is often seen as a last name, like for actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
• Peak Popularity: Parker peaked in 2015.

Parvati

• Origin: Indian
• Meaning: Daughter of the mountain
• Famous Namesakes: Parvati is another name reminiscent of Harry Potter—Parvati Patil.
• Peak Popularity: Parvati has not yet appeared in the popular names list in the U.S.

Patrick

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Nobleman
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pat
• Famous Namesakes: Actors Patrick Stewart, Patrick Dempsey, and Neil Patrick Harris
• Peak Popularity: Patrick was a popular name in the 1960s.

Paul

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Humble
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paulo, Paolo, Pablo
• Famous Namesakes: Musician Paul McCartney and actor Paul Rudd
• Peak Popularity: Paul had a few decades of popularity in the early 1900s.

Pax

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Peace
• Famous Namesakes: One of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children is named Pax.
• Peak Popularity: Pax hasn't yet appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.

Pearl

• Origin: English
• Meaning: A pearl
• Peak Popularity: Pearl was most popular in the early 1900s.

Pedro

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Rock
• Famous Namesakes: Director Pedro Almodóvar and actor Pedro Pascal
• Peak Popularity: Pedro peaked in 1992 on the U.S. list of most popular baby names.

Pemberley

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From the barley hill
• Peak Popularity: Pemberley doesn't appear on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.

Penelope

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: With a web over her face
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Penny
• Famous Namesakes: Actress Penélope Cruz is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Penelope peaked in 2019.

Penn

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Lives by the hill
• Famous Namesakes: Actor Penn Badgley is one of the most well-known people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Penn hasn't yet made the list of popular baby names in the U.S.

Percy

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Pierce valley
• Famous Namesakes: Musician Percy Sledge is a well-known person with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Percy peaked in 1902.

Perry

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Dweller by the pear tree
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Perri, Perrie
• Famous Namesakes: Fashion designer Perry Ellis and singer Perrie Edwards
• Peak Popularity: Perry's biggest year in the U.S. was in 1959.

Peter

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Rock
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pete
• Famous Namesakes: Actors Pete Davidson and Peter Dinklage, musicians Pete Townshend and Peter Gabriel
• Peak Popularity: Peter has long been a popular name, but the 1950s were its peak.

Peyton

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From Pacca's town
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Payton
• Famous Namesakes: Actress Peyton List and football player Peyton Manning
• Peak Popularity: Peyton peaked in 2009 in the U.S.

Phillip

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Lover of horses
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Philip, Phil
• Famous Namesakes: Author Philip K. Dick, musician Phil Collins, and late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Peak Popularity: Phillip was a frequently used name in the 1950s.

Philomena

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Strong friend
• Peak Popularity: Philomena reached its peak popularity in 1915.

Phineas

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Nubian
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Finneas, Phinaeus
• Famous Namesakes: Finneas O'Connell, Billie Eilish's brother and musical partner, is one of the most well-known people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Phineas doesn't appear on the popular baby names list in the U.S.

Phoenix

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Purple-red
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fenix
• Famous Namesakes: You may see Phoenix as a last name, like Joaquin Phoenix.
• Peak Popularity: Phoenix peaked in 2020.

Pierce

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Rock
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pearce
• Famous Namesakes: Actor Pierce Brosnan is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Pierce saw its highest popularity in the 2000s.

Polly

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Great sorrow
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Polli, Pollie
• Famous Namesakes: Singer PJ Harvey's first name is Polly.
• Peak Popularity: Polly was most popular in 1934.

Pradeep

• Origin: Indian
• Meaning: Light
• Peak Popularity: Pradeep doesn't appear on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.

Presley

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From the priest's field
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Prestley
• Famous Namesakes: Presley is a famous last name, as in Elvis Presley.
• Peak Popularity: Presley peaked in 2015.

Preston

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From the priest's town
• Peak Popularity: Preston was a popular name in the early 2000s.

Prince

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Royal sun
• Famous Namesakes: Late musician Prince, whose real name was actually Prince, is the most famous person with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Prince reached its top popularity in 2019.

Priscilla

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Ancient
• Famous Namesakes: Priscilla Presley is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Priscilla was a popular name in the 1940s.

Prudence

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Cautious
• Peak Popularity: Prudence is an old-fashioned name that was popular in the 1940s.