Pernell Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: per-NEL /pərˈnɛl/
Origin: Latin; French
Meaning: Latin: 'to speak'; French: 'little Peter'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Pernell is believed to have roots in the Old French name "Pernelle," which itself is derived from the Latin name "Petronella," a diminutive form of "Petrus," meaning "rock" or "stone." The name Petronella was used in various forms across Europe, particularly in the medieval period, and made its way into English through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The transformation from Petronella to Pernelle and subsequently to Pernell reflects the linguistic evolution as names were adapted to fit phonetic and cultural contexts in England.
Historically, the name Pernell has been associated with several notable figures. One significant milestone is the use of the name in literature and religious texts.
The name Petronella appears in various hagiographies and saints' lives, particularly in the context of early Christian saints. The name's association with Saint Petronella, a figure venerated in some Christian traditions, contributed to its usage in medieval Europe.
Additionally, the name appears in various forms in English literature during the Middle Ages, showcasing its presence in the cultural fabric of the time. Culturally, the name Pernell carries connotations of strength and stability, reflective of its etymological roots in the word for "rock." This symbolism has allowed the name to endure through centuries, often associated with steadfastness and resilience.
The name has also been linked to various diminutive forms, such as "Pernie," which may have been used affectionately in familial contexts. Overall, the name Pernell encapsulates a rich historical and linguistic journey, embodying both cultural significance and a connection to the past.
Famous people named Pernell
In this section, you will find notable people named Pernell. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Pernell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Pernell who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Pernell Roberts is an actor best known for Bonanza, Trapper John, M.D., and The Man from Blackhawk.
Pernell Whitaker is a professional boxer best known for winning world championships in four weight classes.
Fictional characters named Pernell
The following list of fictional characters named Pernell 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.
Pernell is a fictional character from the TV series The Blacklist. He is a skilled criminal who becomes involved in the complex web of espionage and intrigue surrounding the main characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Pernell, 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 Pernell. 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 Pernell was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Pernell has ranked as high as #1322 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in Virginia, Louisiana, New York, Florida, and South Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Pernell has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Pernell 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 Pernell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Pernell.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2009 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2008 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 2007 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2006 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2002 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 2000 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1998 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1997 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1995 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1994 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1993 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1992 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1991 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1990 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1989 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1988 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1987 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1986 | 46 | 46 | 0 |
| 1985 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1984 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1983 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1982 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1981 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1980 | 46 | 46 | 0 |
| 1979 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1978 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1977 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 1976 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 1975 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1974 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| 1973 | 77 | 77 | 0 |
| 1972 | 48 | 43 | 5 |
| 1971 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1970 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1969 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1968 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1967 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1966 | 84 | 84 | 0 |
| 1965 | 153 | 148 | 5 |
| 1964 | 183 | 178 | 5 |
| 1963 | 149 | 149 | 0 |
| 1962 | 128 | 128 | 0 |
| 1961 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1960 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1959 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1958 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1957 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1956 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1955 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1954 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1953 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| 1952 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1951 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1950 | 34 | 22 | 12 |
| 1949 | 29 | 24 | 5 |
| 1948 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
| 1947 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1946 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1945 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1944 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| 1943 | 26 | 15 | 11 |
| 1942 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 1941 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 1940 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 1939 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| 1938 | 25 | 16 | 9 |
| 1937 | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 1936 | 22 | 13 | 9 |
| 1935 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| 1934 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 1933 | 25 | 11 | 14 |
| 1932 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| 1931 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| 1930 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1929 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1928 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| 1927 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1926 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 1925 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 1924 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 1923 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1922 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1921 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1920 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1919 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1918 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| 1917 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1916 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1915 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Pernell (2006)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |