Peony Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PEE-uh-nee //ˈpiːəni//
Origin: Greek; English
Meaning: Greek: flower; English: derived from the flower name
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Peony originates from the Greek word "paeonia," which refers to the flowering plant known for its large, colorful blooms. The etymology can be traced back to the Greek mythological figure Paeon, a physician to the gods, who was said to have been transformed into the peony flower by Zeus to escape the wrath of Asclepius, the god of medicine.
This connection imbues the name with connotations of healing and beauty, reflecting the flower's significance in ancient cultures. The term made its way into Latin as "paeonia," and subsequently into Old French as "pivoine," before entering the English language in the late Middle Ages, where it retained its floral associations.
Throughout history, the peony has held various cultural significances. In ancient China, it was revered as a symbol of wealth, good fortune, and prosperity, often referred to as the "king of flowers." The peony's prominence in Chinese culture is evident in art, poetry, and traditional medicine, where it has been used for its purported health benefits.
In the context of Western traditions, particularly during the Victorian era, peonies were often associated with romance and bashfulness, further enhancing their appeal as a name. The name Peony, while not widely used as a personal name, carries with it a rich tapestry of historical and cultural meanings.
Its association with beauty and healing has made it a symbol of femininity and grace. In literature and art, the peony has been depicted as a representation of love and prosperity, reinforcing its enduring resonance in various cultures.
The name's floral roots provide a timeless quality, linking it to nature and the cycles of life, which have been celebrated across different civilizations for centuries.
Fictional characters named Peony
The following list of fictional characters named Peony is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Peony is a fictional character from the novel Peony in Love by Lisa See. She is a young woman in 17th century China who becomes obsessed with a love story and the concept of love itself.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Peony, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Peony. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Peony was first seen in the United States in 1985.
Peony has ranked as high as #1345 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Peony has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Peony is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Peony was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Peony
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Peony.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1985 | 7 |