Priscilla Girl

Popularity: #511 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: pri-SIL-uh //prɪˈsɪlə//

Origin: Latin; Hebrew

Meaning: Latin: 'ancient'; Hebrew: 'to be fruitful'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Priscilla has its roots in Latin, derived from the word "priscus," meaning "ancient" or "venerable." The name appears in various forms throughout history, including the Latin "Priscilla" and the Greek "Πρυσκίλλα" (Priskilla). It entered the English language through the Latin form, primarily due to the influence of early Christian texts and the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

The name is notably associated with a prominent figure in the New Testament, Priscilla, who, along with her husband Aquila, is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul, particularly in the first century CE. This biblical association contributed significantly to the name's adoption among early Christians.

Throughout the centuries, Priscilla has been recognized as a symbol of piety and dedication, often celebrated for her role in the early Christian community. The name appears in various historical texts and has been borne by several saints, further solidifying its place in Christian tradition.

The Vulgate, a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible, also references Priscilla, ensuring her legacy continued through ecclesiastical writings and teachings. Culturally, the name Priscilla has been embraced in various artistic and literary works, reflecting its enduring significance.

In the Renaissance, the name was sometimes associated with wisdom and virtue, as it was linked to the biblical Priscilla's role as a teacher of Apollos, a notable early Christian preacher. The diminutive form "Cilla" has also emerged, though it is less commonly used in historical texts.

Overall, Priscilla's etymological roots, historical milestones, and cultural resonance contribute to its lasting presence in Christian and literary traditions.

Famous people named Priscilla

In this section, you will find notable people named Priscilla. 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 Priscilla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Priscilla 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.

Priscilla Presley is an actress and businesswoman best known for her marriage to Elvis Presley, her role in the Naked Gun series, and her work with Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Priscilla Chan is a philanthropist and pediatrician best known for co-founding the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, her work in education reform, and her advocacy for children's health.

Fictional characters named Priscilla

The following list of fictional characters named Priscilla 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.

Priscilla is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Fullmetal Alchemist. She is a skilled alchemist and a member of the military, playing a significant role in the story's exploration of morality and sacrifice.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Priscilla, 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 Priscilla. 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 Priscilla was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Priscilla has ranked as high as #247 nationally, which occurred in 1942, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Priscilla has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Priscilla 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 Priscilla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Priscilla (2024)

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.

State Births Share
CA 86
20%
TX 48
11%
FL 24
6%
GA 23
5%
IL 21
5%
NY 17
4%
NC 16
4%
AZ 16
4%
OH 16
4%
MN 14
3%
VA 13
3%
IN 13
3%
PA 13
3%
MO 12
3%
TN 12
3%

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 Priscilla.

YearBirths
2024484
2023451
2022411
2021477
2020523
2019487
2018535
2017592
2016669
2015635
2014652
2013637
2012631
2011612
2010621
2009772
2008777
2007876
2006874
2005909
2004921
20031,080
20021,090
20011,130
20001,170
19991,291
19981,284
19971,156
19961,093
19951,307
19941,507
19931,596
19921,726
19911,779
19901,754
19891,740
19881,812
19871,648
19861,536
19851,701
19841,601
19831,508
19821,488
19811,539
19801,432
19791,256
19781,099
1977913
1976789
1975722
1974905
1973826
1972766
1971904
1970934
1969919
1968857
1967871
1966846
1965945
19641,138
19631,248
19621,211
19611,089
19601,215
19591,271
19581,396
19571,449
19561,350
19551,280
19541,307
19531,379
19521,547
19511,590
19501,672
19491,935
19481,847
19471,933
19461,659
19451,412
19441,576
19431,834
19421,988
19411,971
19401,970
19391,542
19381,026
1937797
1936758
1935774
1934664
1933676
1932728
1931749
1930824
1929842
1928887
1927898
1926834
1925830
1924861
1923811
1922761
1921723
1920637
1919557
1918518
1917456
1916440
1915392
1914279
1913241
1912205
1911148
1910142
190999
1908106
1907117
1906107
190588
190480
190379
190279
190172
1900110
189959
189871
189773
189672
189563
189459
189351
189250
189151
189040
188939
188856
188751
188642
188532
188440
188327
188235
188127
188026