Per

Q: What is the origin of Per?

Per is of Scandinavian origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Per?

According to the latest SSA data, Per is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Per a boy name?

Per is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Stone; Rock"

Scandinavian form of Peter, ultimately from Greek petros stone, widely used in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Themes:scandinavianshortclassicmasculine

Nature Natural Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

B.A. Journalism, Northwestern University10+ Years Parenting WritingMom of Three • Parenting Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Per

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Per did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Per Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Per.

8 ideas

pie

Nickname

perie

Nickname

pery

Nickname

pero

Nickname

Similar Names to Per

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Andrew

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

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Aaron

AIR-un

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Adam

AD-um

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Alex

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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

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Andre

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

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Andres

“Manly; Courageous”

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Baby Name Lists That Include Per

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Per, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

17 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Per mean?

Per means "Stone; Rock". Scandinavian form of Peter, ultimately from Greek petros stone, widely used in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

What is the origin of Per?

Per is of Scandinavian origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Per?

According to the latest SSA data, Per is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Per a boy name?

Per is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Per?

Popular nicknames for Per include pie, py, po, pe, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Per?

There are many names similar to Per in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginScandinavian, Greek

Syllables1

Length3 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withP

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Axl Aksel Axell Andersen Axcel

Sisters

Anitra Anneka Annica Anely Andersen

Explore More Boy Names Like Per

Per has Scandinavian roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Scandinavian baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Per appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Scandinavian Baby Names and Earth-Inspired Nature Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Unique Baby Names and Classic Greek Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Per pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Per beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.