One fun theme families opt for is going by letters. Whether you want all the names to start with the same letter or you want a specific pattern to follow, having a list of names to start with can help. If the letter “P” is what you’re after, there are a lot of popular names as well as unique baby names to choose from.
Pablo
Origin: Spanish Meaning: Small Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paul Famous Namesakes: Notable painter Pablo Picasso is one of the most well-known people with this name. Peak Popularity: Pablo reached its highest popularity in 2005.
Padma
Origin: Indian Meaning: Lotus Alternative Spellings & Variations: Padme Famous Namesakes: Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is one of the most notable people with this name. Peak Popularity: Padma does not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S.
Paige
Origin: English Meaning: Assistant Alternative Spellings & Variations: Page Peak Popularity: Paige was most popular in the early 2000s.
Paisley
Origin: Scottish Meaning: Church Famous Namesakes: You might see Paisley as a last name, like singer Brad Paisley. Peak Popularity: Paisley’s biggest year was 2017.
Pamela
Origin: EnglishMeaning: All honeyAlternative Spellings & Variations: PamFamous Namesakes: Actresses Pamela Anderson and Pamela Sue MartinPeak Popularity: Pamela was a popular name in the 1950s.
Pancho
Origin: SpanishMeaning: FreeFamous Namesakes: Key figure in the Mexican Revolution, Pancho VillaPeak Popularity: Pancho has not appeared on the most popular baby names list in the U.S.
Pansy
Origin: AmericanMeaning: Violet flowerFamous Namesakes: You might recall Pansy Parkinson from Harry Potter.Peak Popularity: Pansy was a popular name in the early 1900s.
Paolo
Origin: Italian Meaning: Small Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paul Famous Namesakes: Soccer players Paolo Maldini and Paolo Rossi Peak Popularity: Paolo does not appear on the popular names list in the U.S.
Parker
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Park keeperFamous Namesakes: Parker is often seen as a last name, like for actress Sarah Jessica Parker.Peak Popularity: Parker peaked in 2015.
Parvati
Origin: IndianMeaning: Daughter of the mountainFamous Namesakes: Parvati is another name reminiscent of Harry Potter—Parvati Patil.Peak Popularity: Parvati has not yet appeared in the popular names list in the U.S.
Patrick
Origin: EnglishMeaning: NoblemanAlternative Spellings & Variations: PatFamous Namesakes: Actors Patrick Stewart, Patrick Dempsey, and Neil Patrick HarrisPeak Popularity: Patrick was a popular name in the 1960s.
Paul
Origin: Latin Meaning: Humble Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paulo, Paolo, Pablo Famous Namesakes: Musician Paul McCartney and actor Paul Rudd Peak Popularity: Paul had a few decades of popularity in the early 1900s.
Pax
Origin: LatinMeaning: PeaceFamous Namesakes: One of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children is named Pax.Peak Popularity: Pax hasn’t yet appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Pearl
Origin: EnglishMeaning: A pearlPeak Popularity: Pearl was most popular in the early 1900s.
Pedro
Origin: SpanishMeaning: RockFamous Namesakes: Director Pedro Almodóvar and actor Pedro PascalPeak Popularity: Pedro peaked in 1992 on the U.S. list of most popular baby names.
Pemberley
Origin: EnglishMeaning: From the barley hillPeak Popularity: Pemberley doesn’t appear on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Penelope
Origin: Greek Meaning: With a web over her face Alternative Spellings & Variations: Penny Famous Namesakes: Actress Penélope Cruz is one of the most famous people with this name. Peak Popularity: Penelope peaked in 2019.
Penn
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Lives by the hillFamous Namesakes: Actor Penn Badgley is one of the most well-known people with this name.Peak Popularity: Penn hasn’t yet made the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Percy
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Pierce valleyFamous Namesakes: Musician Percy Sledge is a well-known person with this name.Peak Popularity: Percy peaked in 1902.
Perry
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Dweller by the pear treeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Perri, PerrieFamous Namesakes: Fashion designer Perry Ellis and singer Perrie EdwardsPeak Popularity: Perry’s biggest year in the U.S. was in 1959.
Peter
Origin: GreekMeaning: RockAlternative Spellings & Variations: PeteFamous Namesakes: Actors Pete Davidson and Peter Dinklage, musicians Pete Townshend and Peter GabrielPeak Popularity: Peter has long been a popular name, but the 1950s were its peak.
Peyton
Origin: EnglishMeaning: From Pacca’s townAlternative Spellings & Variations: PaytonFamous Namesakes: Actress Peyton List and football player Peyton ManningPeak Popularity: Peyton peaked in 2009 in the U.S.
Phillip
Origin: GreekMeaning: Lover of horsesAlternative Spellings & Variations: Philip, PhilFamous Namesakes: Author Philip K. Dick, musician Phil Collins, and late actor Philip Seymour HoffmanPeak Popularity: Phillip was a frequently used name in the 1950s.
Philomena
Origin: GreekMeaning: Strong friendPeak Popularity: Philomena reached its peak popularity in 1915.
Phineas
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Nubian Alternative Spellings & Variations: Finneas, Phinaeus Famous Namesakes: Finneas O’Connell, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical partner, is one of the most well-known people with this name. Peak Popularity: Phineas doesn’t appear on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Phoenix
Origin: GreekMeaning: Purple-redAlternative Spellings & Variations: FenixFamous Namesakes: You may see Phoenix as a last name, like Joaquin Phoenix.Peak Popularity: Phoenix peaked in 2020.
Pierce
Origin: EnglishMeaning: RockAlternative Spellings & Variations: PearceFamous Namesakes: Actor Pierce Brosnan is one of the most famous people with this name.Peak Popularity: Pierce saw its highest popularity in the 2000s.
Polly
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Great sorrowAlternative Spellings & Variations: Polli, PollieFamous Namesakes: Singer PJ Harvey’s first name is Polly.Peak Popularity: Polly was most popular in 1934.
Pradeep
Origin: IndianMeaning: LightPeak Popularity: Pradeep doesn’t appear on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Presley
Origin: EnglishMeaning: From the priest’s fieldAlternative Spellings & Variations: PrestleyFamous Namesakes: Presley is a famous last name, as in Elvis Presley.Peak Popularity: Presley peaked in 2015.
Preston
Origin: EnglishMeaning: From the priest’s townPeak Popularity: Preston was a popular name in the early 2000s.
Prince
Origin: LatinMeaning: Royal sunFamous Namesakes: Late musician Prince, whose real name was actually Prince, is the most famous person with this name.Peak Popularity: Prince reached its top popularity in 2019.
Priscilla
Origin: LatinMeaning: AncientFamous Namesakes: Priscilla Presley is one of the most famous people with this name.Peak Popularity: Priscilla was a popular name in the 1940s.
Prudence
Origin: EnglishMeaning: CautiousPeak Popularity: Prudence is an old-fashioned name that was popular in the 1940s.
