Perpetua Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: per-PEH-too-ah //pərˈpɛtʃuə//
Origin: Latin
Meaning: perpetual; everlasting
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Perpetua is derived from the Latin word "perpetuus," meaning "everlasting" or "perpetual." Its etymological roots can be traced back to ancient Rome, where it was used as a feminine given name. The name entered the English language through the influence of Latin during the early medieval period, particularly as the Christian Church began to adopt and adapt Roman names for its saints and martyrs.
The transition from Latin to Old French and then to Middle English facilitated the incorporation of Perpetua into English vernacular, although it remained relatively uncommon compared to other names. One of the most significant historical milestones associated with the name Perpetua is the life of Saint Perpetua, a Christian martyr who lived in the early 3rd century.
Her story is documented in the "Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity," a text that recounts her imprisonment and eventual martyrdom in Carthage around 203 AD. This account not only highlights her steadfast faith but also reflects the early Christian community's struggles during a time of persecution.
The narrative of Perpetua's courage and conviction has had a lasting impact on Christian hagiography and has inspired countless followers throughout the centuries. Culturally, the name Perpetua has come to symbolize unwavering faith and resilience in the face of adversity.
It is often associated with themes of martyrdom and sacrifice, resonating deeply within Christian traditions. The name has also been used in various literary and artistic works, further solidifying its significance in cultural memory.
While diminutive forms such as "Peri" may exist, the name Perpetua itself carries a weight of historical and spiritual meaning that has contributed to its endurance in various contexts.
Fictional characters named Perpetua
The following list of fictional characters named Perpetua 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.
Perpetua is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. She is a powerful cosmic entity who represents the embodiment of creation and is central to various storylines involving the multiverse.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Perpetua, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Perpetua was first seen in the United States in 2007.
Perpetua has ranked as high as #1371 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Perpetua has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Perpetua 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 Perpetua was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Perpetua
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 Perpetua.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 |