84 Baby Names That Start With P (Meanings & Origins)

Looking for the perfect baby name that starts with P? Whether you want something classic, trendy, unique, or rooted in history, this list of 84 real P names includes meanings and origins to help you choose with confidence.

• If you’re looking for a list of boy names, here is a great list for you.
• Need baby girl name inspo? Here is a great list as well.
• If you need girl and boy names – here is a list of more than 1400 baby names for both!

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Why Choose Baby Names That Start With P?

Names starting with the letter P have a distinctive charm—many feel powerful, playful, or poetic. Whether you’re inspired by nature (like Poppy), literature (like Percy), or spirituality (like Pax), this list of baby names that start with P will help you find a perfect fit.

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Girl Baby Names That Start With P

• Penelope – Greek, meaning “weaver,” Penelope is Odysseus’s loyal wife in the Odyssey, famous for outwitting suitors by unweaving her work each night.
• Phoebe – Greek, meaning “bright” or “shining,” Phoebe was a Titan goddess associated with the moon, and later a common name in both the New Testament and vintage American use.
• Poppy – Named directly for the red wildflower, itself long a symbol of remembrance (especially tied to WWI), Poppy has a bright, cheerful sound.
• Persephone – Greek mythology’s queen of the underworld and goddess of spring, Persephone’s story of yearly descent and return symbolizes the changing seasons.
• Paige – French/English, meaning “young helper” or “attendant,” Paige started as an occupational surname before common first-name use.
• Primrose – English, meaning “first rose,” Primrose refers to one of the earliest blooming spring flowers, giving it fresh, romantic imagery.
• Paloma – Spanish, meaning “dove,” Paloma carries peaceful symbolism and gained visibility through artist Pablo Picasso’s daughter, designer Paloma Picasso.
• Petra – Greek, meaning “rock,” Petra also refers to the ancient Nabatean city carved into rose-colored rock in Jordan.
• Promise – A direct English virtue name, Promise carries obvious hopeful, aspirational meaning.
• Petunia – Named for the vibrant, trumpet-shaped flower, Petunia carries a bold, cheerful botanical sound.
• Patience – A traditional English virtue name popularized by 17th-century Puritan naming customs, carrying its meaning directly.
• Pippa – A diminutive of Philippa, meaning “lover of horses,” Pippa gained global visibility through Pippa Middleton.
• Priscilla – Latin, meaning “ancient,” Priscilla appears in the New Testament as a early Christian missionary and teacher alongside her husband Aquila.
• Polly – A vintage nickname for Mary or Paula, Polly has stood on its own as a complete name since the 18th century.
• Paulina – The feminine form of Paul, meaning “small,” Paulina carries an elegant, romance-language sound.
• Prudence – Latin, meaning “caution” or “wisdom,” Prudence was another popular Puritan virtue name that’s returned as part of the broader vintage revival.
• Pia – Latin, meaning “pious” or “devout,” Pia carries genuine religious meaning and is common across Italian and Scandinavian naming traditions.
• Perla – Spanish/Italian for “pearl,” Perla carries the same gemstone symbolism as Pearl with a romance-language sound.

Need more whimsical inspiration? Try these Bridgerton baby names for a vintage, aristocratic twist.

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Boy Baby Names That Start With P

• Peter – Greek, meaning “rock,” Peter is the apostle Jesus called the rock on which he would build his church, one of the most consistently used names in Christian history.
• Preston – English, meaning “priest’s town,” Preston started as a place name and surname before crossing into common first-name use.
• Percival – French, meaning “pierce the valley,” Percival is one of the Knights of the Round Table famed for his quest for the Holy Grail.
• Paxton – English, meaning “peaceful town,” Paxton has a stylish, serene sound that’s grown quickly in recent years.
• Pierce – English, meaning “son of Peter,” Pierce carries a sharp, strong sound and real screen visibility through actor Pierce Brosnan.
• Presley – English, meaning “priest’s meadow,” Presley carries obvious rock-and-roll association through Elvis Presley.
• Patrick – Latin, meaning “noble,” Patrick carries deep Irish religious history through Saint Patrick, the patron saint credited with spreading Christianity across Ireland.
• Porter – French/English, meaning “gatekeeper,” Porter started as an occupational surname before becoming a vintage-cool first name.
• Philip – Greek, meaning “lover of horses,” Philip carries real historical weight through Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.
• Palmer – English, meaning “pilgrim” (referring specifically to pilgrims who carried palm fronds from the Holy Land), Palmer carries genuine medieval religious history.
• Pascal – French, meaning “of the Passover” or “born at Easter,” Pascal carries real religious and intellectual weight through mathematician-philosopher Blaise Pascal.
• Pryce – A stylish modern spelling of Price, meaning “son of the ardent one,” Pryce carries a sleek, contemporary sound.
• Powell – Welsh, meaning “son of Hywel,” Powell started as a surname before rare first-name use.
• Philander – Greek, meaning “lover of mankind,” Philander has fallen out of favor since the word came to mean “one who has many casual affairs,” worth knowing before use.
• Pierrot – The French diminutive of Pierre (Peter), Pierrot is also the iconic sad-faced clown of French pantomime and commedia dell’arte.
• Penn – English, meaning “enclosure” or possibly tied to a hilltop, Penn carries real American history through William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania.
• Ptolemy – Greek-Egyptian, the name of the dynasty of pharaohs that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great, including Cleopatra’s family line.

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Gender-Neutral Baby Names That Start With P

• Peyton – English, meaning “fighting man’s estate,” Peyton works for either gender and has grown quickly since the 2000s.
• Parker – English, meaning “park keeper,” Parker started as an occupational surname and now works confidently for either gender.
• Paris – Named for the French capital, also the Trojan prince in Greek mythology whose actions sparked the Trojan War, Paris works for either gender.
• Pax – Latin for “peace,” Pax works for either gender with a short, meaningful sound.
• Poet – An artistic English word name, Poet works for either gender and carries obvious creative, expressive meaning.
• Peace – A direct English word name reflecting calm and spirituality, Peace works for either gender.
• Page – A variant spelling of Paige, Page works for either gender and carries the same “young attendant” root.
• Paxley – A modern blend of Paxton and Lee-style endings, Paxley has no independent historical root but fits current naming trends.
• Patton – English, meaning “warrior’s town” or “pathfinder’s estate,” Patton carries a strong, presidential/military feel through General George Patton.
• Pilot – A bold English word name referring to the aviator, Pilot carries an adventurous, forward-looking meaning and works for either gender.
• Palin – A modern surname-style name with a sharp, minimalist sound, working for either gender.
• Prescott – English, meaning “priest’s cottage,” Prescott carries a formal, dignified sound and works for either gender.
• Poe – A short literary name tied directly to author Edgar Allan Poe, Poe works for either gender with a dark, poetic sound.
• Poem – A direct English word name, Poem carries gentle, artistic meaning and works for either gender.

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Nature-Inspired Baby Names That Start With P

• Pine – Named for the evergreen tree long symbolizing resilience and endurance through harsh seasons, Pine works for either gender.
• Prairie – A sweeping English word name referring to open grassland, Prairie carries a wild, expansive nature feel.
• Peregrine – Latin, meaning “traveler” or “pilgrim,” Peregrine also refers directly to the fastest bird on Earth, the peregrine falcon.
• Petal – A direct English nature word name, Petal carries delicate, floral imagery.
• Pebble – A small, earthy English word name evoking calm riverbeds and beaches.
• Petrel – Named for a small seabird known for skimming ocean waves, Petrel carries a light, nautical nature sound.
• Peach – Named directly for the soft, sweet stone fruit, Peach carries a warm, summery feel.
• Piney – A whimsical elaboration of Pine, carrying the same forest imagery with a softer sound.
• Pollux – From Greek and Roman mythology, one of the immortal twin stars in the constellation Gemini, alongside his mortal brother Castor.
• Poppyseed – A quirky, cozy elaboration of Poppy referencing the tiny edible seed.
• Plum – Named for the sweet stone fruit and its rich purple color, Plum carries a rare, fruit-forward nature meaning.
• Prairielyn – A modern invented blend of Prairie and the popular “-lyn” ending, with no independent historical root.
• Pond – A calm, quiet English nature word name referring to a small body of still water.
• Petraea – A Latin-rooted elaboration of Petra, meaning “of the rock,” Petraea carries a more ornate, nature-adjacent sound.

Love nature? You might also enjoy baby names that mean forest spirit.

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Baby Names That Start With P and Mean Peace, Water, or Calm

• Panya – A name found in both Thai (meaning “wisdom”) and Slavic naming traditions, Panya carries a soft, gentle sound.
• Padmini – Sanskrit, meaning “lotus,” Padmini carries serene botanical and spiritual symbolism within Hindu tradition.
• Pasang – Tibetan, traditionally given to children born on a Friday, Pasang carries real cultural naming-convention roots.
• Pavati – A Hopi name sometimes glossed as “clear water” or “sound of running water,” carrying gentle, flowing imagery.
• Pavlo – The Ukrainian/Slavic form of Paul, meaning “small,” Pavlo carries the same root with a distinctly Eastern European sound.
• Paz – Spanish for “peace,” Paz carries direct, meaningful symbolism and works for either gender.
• Priya – Hindi/Sanskrit for “beloved,” Priya carries warm, affectionate meaning within South Asian naming traditions.
• Placida – Latin, meaning “calm” or “gentle,” Placida carries real Roman history through Empress Galla Placidia.
• Pura – Spanish, meaning “pure,” Pura carries a soft, devotional meaning within Spanish Catholic naming traditions.

Explore more in-depth options with baby names that mean water.

Alphabetical Bonus Picks

• Padma – Sanskrit for “lotus,” Padma carries the same spiritual botanical meaning as Padmini in a shorter form.
• Pascoe – Cornish, meaning “Easter,” Pascoe carries the same religious root as Pascal with a distinctly Cornish surname sound.
• Patricio – The Spanish form of Patrick, meaning “noble,” carrying the same saintly Irish root with a Latin American sound.
• Philo – Greek, meaning “loving,” Philo carries real philosophical history through Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher.
• Phineas – Hebrew, meaning “oracle” or “mouth of a serpent,” Phineas appears in the Old Testament as a priest known for his zealous faith.
• Plato – Greek, possibly meaning “broad-shouldered,” Plato carries enormous philosophical weight as the student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
• Perrin – The French variant of Peter, meaning “rock,” Perrin carries a light, romance-language sound.
• Pasha – The Russian pet form of Pavel (Paul), Pasha carries a warm, familiar Slavic sound.
• Piers – The English form of Peter, meaning “rock,” Piers carries a formal, old-world British sound.
• Pallavi – A Sanskrit/Hindi name meaning “new leaves” or “sprout,” Pallavi carries fresh, growth-oriented imagery.

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FAQ: Baby Names That Start With P

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right P Name

Choosing a baby name that starts with P gives you access to a diverse world of strong, sweet, and meaningful names. Whether you’re drawn to tradition, creativity, or symbolism, there’s a perfect P name waiting for your little one.

Next step: Check out Bridgerton-inspired names for more timeless options, or browse names that mean water and forest spirit names for more magical ideas.

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