Browse by letter

Christian names starting with P

Browse Christian and biblical names starting with P, with meanings, origins, and faith context.

The P cluster is overwhelmingly New Testament. Peter (Greek Petros, "rock"), the lead apostle whose confession at Caesarea Philippi ("Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Matthew 16:16) became the central christological statement of the Gospels. Paul (Latin Paulus, "small"), originally Saul of Tarsus, became the apostle to the Gentiles whose missionary travels and letters shaped the New Testament's second half.

Philip is the apostle who first encountered Jesus in Galilee (John 1:43 to 51) and who is identified at one point as the one figure the Greeks asked to meet (John 12:20 to 22). Phoebe (Greek Phoibē, "bright" or "radiant") was the deacon of the church at Cenchreae and the carrier of Paul's letter to Rome itself (Romans 16:1 to 2), functionally the woman who delivered the most theologically important text in the New Testament to its first audience.

Priscilla (Latin Priscilla, "ancient" or "venerable") was the tentmaker and teacher who corrected the Alexandrian preacher Apollos in Acts 18, named first in four of the six New Testament passages mentioning her partnership with her husband Aquila.

8 names Meanings and origins Christian context

Patience Patience is an English virtue name meaning forbearance, endurance, or steadfast waiting. English from Old French and Latin Paul Paul is a Latin name usually understood to mean small or humble. Latin Perpetua Perpetua is a Latin name meaning 'everlasting' or 'perpetual.' Latin Peter Peter is a Greek name meaning rock or stone. Greek Philip Philip is a Greek name meaning lover of horses. Greek Phoebe Phoebe is a Greek name usually understood as bright, radiant, or shining. Greek Priscilla Priscilla is a Latin name meaning ancient or venerable. Latin Prudence Prudence is an English virtue name meaning practical wisdom, foresight, or careful judgement. English from Old French and Latin

P names in 2026

The P cluster has receded sharply from its mid-20th-century peak. Peter held a US Top 30 position from 1880 through 1990, then began a decline that put him outside the Top 200 by 2010. Peter currently ranks #187 in the 2025 SSA data, his lowest position on record. Paul followed a parallel arc, dropping from a Top 20 position in 1960 to #262 in the most recent release.

Phoebe carries the cluster's current momentum on the girls' side, climbing from #440 in 2000 to #157 in 2025, part of the broader minor-New-Testament-women revival also shaping Lydia and Junia.