Girl Names That Start With P
P is a playful letter. It pops at the start of a name, which is why so many P names feel lively and bright: Piper, Poppy, Paisley, Pearl. At the same time it gives you grand, literary choices like Penelope, Philippa and Persephone. This list of 90+ girl names that start with P covers both ends, with meanings and origins for every name.
Looking for something in between? Compare nearby letters with girl names that start with O and R, or browse our pretty girl names for a wider mix.
Today’s favorite P names for girls
These P names show up most on recent US birth certificates, led by Penelope and Paisley.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Penelope | Weaver (traditional interpretation) | Greek |
| Paisley | From the Scottish town; also the teardrop pattern | Scottish |
| Parker | Park keeper | English surname |
| Piper | One who plays the pipe | English |
| Paige | Young servant, page | English |
| Payton | Fighting man’s estate | English surname |
| Paris | The French capital; Trojan prince in myth | French/Greek |
| Palmer | Pilgrim who carried a palm frond | English surname |
| Presley | Priest’s meadow | English surname |
| Phoebe | Bright, radiant | Greek |
| Poppy | The red poppy flower | English |
| Promise | A pledge | English word name |
Old-fashioned and vintage P names
A generation of Pearls, Pollys and Patricias is quietly inspiring today’s parents. Explore more in vintage girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | The gem | English |
| Patricia | Noble, patrician | Latin |
| Pauline | Small, humble | French, from Paul |
| Paula | Small, humble | Latin |
| Priscilla | Ancient, venerable | Latin |
| Polly | Rhyming pet form of Molly/Mary | English |
| Peggy | Pearl, pet form of Margaret | English |
| Pegeen | Pearl, Irish diminutive of Margaret | Irish |
| Phyllis | Foliage, leafy branch | Greek |
| Pansy | The flower (French pensée, “thought”) | English |
| Pamela | All honey (possibly) | English literary coinage (Sidney, 1590s) |
| Prudence | Good judgment | English virtue name |
| Patience | Endurance, calm | English virtue name |
| Petula | Possibly from Latin “to seek” | English |
| Philomena | Loved; friend of strength | Greek |
Elegant and classic P names
Longer P names with nickname potential. If you like these, try elegant girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Nicknames |
|---|---|---|
| Philippa | Lover of horses | Pippa, Pip, Flip |
| Penny | Weaver (from Penelope) | Pen |
| Portia | Pig farmer (from the Roman clan Porcius); Shakespeare heroine | Porsh |
| Primrose | First rose | Rosie, Prim |
| Petronella | Rock, stone (from Petronius) | Nell, Petra |
| Perpetua | Everlasting | Pet, Tua |
| Persephone | Possibly “bringer of death” | Percy, Sephie |
| Paulina | Small, humble | Polly, Lina |
| Patrice | Noble | Patty, Tris |
| Pilar | Pillar; from Our Lady of the Pillar | Pili |
| Pippa | Diminutive of Philippa | Pip |
| Petra | Rock, stone | Pet, Tra |
| Petrina | Rock, stone | Trina |
Nature-inspired P names
Flowers, trees and birds that start with P. For more, see flower names for girls.
| Name | Nature link | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Posy | A small bouquet of flowers | Sweet, cottagecore |
| Peony | Lush pink garden flower | Romantic |
| Petunia | Trumpet-shaped flower | Whimsical |
| Pine | The evergreen tree | Earthy, minimal |
| Pepper | The spice | Spunky |
| Plum | The fruit and its purple color | Quirky |
| Paloma | Dove (Spanish) | Peaceful |
| Petal | Flower petal | Soft |
| Prairie | Open grassland | Wide-open, western |
| Primula | Latin for the primrose genus | Botanical, rare |
| Pomona | Roman goddess of fruit trees | Orchard-fresh |
| Periwinkle | Blue-violet flower | Playful |
P names from around the world
P names cross continents. See Indian girl names, Spanish girl names and Polish girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Priya | Beloved, dear | Sanskrit |
| Pooja | Worship, prayer | Sanskrit |
| Priyanka | Dear one, lovable | Sanskrit |
| Padma | Lotus | Sanskrit |
| Parvati | Of the mountain; Hindu goddess | Sanskrit |
| Pallavi | New leaves, blossoming | Sanskrit |
| Prisha | Beloved, God’s gift (modern) | Hindi |
| Paz | Peace | Spanish |
| Perla | Pearl | Spanish/Italian |
| Paola | Small, humble | Italian |
| Paulette | Small, humble | French |
| Pascale | Born at Easter | French |
| Pernille | Rock (from Petronella) | Danish |
| Parisa | Like a fairy | Persian |
| Pari | Fairy | Persian |
| Pavla | Small, humble | Czech |
| Patrycja | Noble | Polish |
| Pua | Flower, blossom | Hawaiian |
| Pania | Maiden of the sea in legend | Māori |
Mythological, biblical and literary P names
Names with stories behind them. See also mythology girl names and biblical girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pandora | All-gifted | Greek myth, the first woman |
| Psyche | Soul, breath | Greek myth, loved by Eros |
| Pallas | Maiden; epithet of Athena | Greek myth |
| Phaedra | Bright | Greek myth, Queen of Athens |
| Penthesilea | Compelling men to mourn | Amazon queen in the Trojan War |
| Persis | Persian woman | Romans 16:12 |
| Puah | Splendid (possibly) | Hebrew midwife, Exodus 1 |
| Philomela | Lover of song | Greek myth, turned into a nightingale |
| Pheme | Rumor, fame | Greek goddess of fame |
| Pleione | Sailing (possibly) | Greek myth, mother of the Pleiades |
| Peninnah | Pearl or coral | Wife of Elkanah, 1 Samuel 1 |
| Pamina | Uncertain; coined for the opera | Mozart’s The Magic Flute |
| Pollyanna | Polly + Anna | Eleanor Porter’s 1913 novel |
Short and punchy P names
Short names that make ideal middle names. Browse more on short girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Pia | Pious, devout | Latin |
| Pema | Lotus | Tibetan |
| Pru | Short for Prudence | English |
| Peg | Pearl | English |
| Pixie | Small fairy | English folklore |
| Pola | Small, humble | Polish |
| Pip | Short for Philippa | English |
Choosing a girl name that starts with P
- Look beyond the top three. Penelope, Paisley and Piper are common. For similar energy, try Poppy, Posy or Philippa.
- Use nickname-rich names. Philippa, Persephone and Primrose all give a formal name for school and a cute one for home.
- Mind the plosive stack. A P first name followed by a P or B surname (Piper Price) can sound tongue-twisty.
- Try a virtue name. Patience, Prudence and Promise are gentle 17th-century-style choices; more ideas in classic girl names.
- Say it at full volume. Some P names (Pepper, Plum) feel fun on a toddler; imagine them on a résumé too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name that starts with P?
Penelope has been the most-used P name for US girls in recent years, ranking in the SSA top 25. Paisley and Parker follow.
What are some unique P girl names?
Perpetua, Primula, Pomona, Petronella, Pernille and Pania are rare in the US yet easy to say.
Which P girl names mean “pearl”?
Pearl itself, plus Perla (Spanish and Italian) and Peggy, Peg and Pegeen, which are all pet forms of Margaret, “pearl.”
Is Paisley a real name?
Yes. Paisley comes from the Scottish town of Paisley, famous for the teardrop fabric pattern. It became a popular American girls’ name in the 2000s.
What are cute nicknames for P names?
Pippa and Pip (Philippa), Penny and Nell (Penelope), Polly (Paulina) and Prim (Primrose) are all well established.