Percy
Meaningfrom Percy, Normandy · French
- US rank
- #1,276
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #98 in 1897
154 babies were named Percy in the US in 2025. It has climbed 770 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1886–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Percy you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Percy
Percy Bysshe Shelley
British Romantic poet (1792–1822)
Choose Percy and your child shares a first name with Percy Bysshe Shelley, a British Romantic poet. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Percy, like who?” Percy Bysshe Shelley's Wikipedia article is available in 143 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Percy Bysshe Shelley on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: After Amelia Curran, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 11,086 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Percy, 154 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Percy would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPercy has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Percys, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1897, when it ranked #98. Today it's #1,276, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowPercy is 3.4× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 37,736 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 11,086.
- TrendPercy has climbed 770 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #1,276. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedPercy is most popular in Utah, where it ranks #621, followed by Minnesota (#640) and Colorado (#756). It's in the top 1,000 in 8 states.
- MeaningIn French, Percy means “from Percy, Normandy”. Our records link it to English and French roots.
About the name Percy
Percy is a boy name of English and French origin meaning “from Percy, Normandy”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-rcy”. US birth records list Percy for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1897, when it ranked #98 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,276, with 154 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 21 | 48,426 girls |
| 1890s | 9.4 | 106,724 girls |
| 1900s | 7.3 | 136,054 girls |
| 1910s | 13 | 76,104 girls |
| 1920s | 12 | 82,850 girls |
| 1930s | 9.5 | 105,597 girls |
| 1940s | 4.1 | 241,546 girls |
| 1950s | 2.8 | 361,011 girls |
| 1960s | 2.7 | 369,004 girls |
| 2010s | 1.2 | 862,069 girls |
| 2020s | 4.7 | 211,268 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,061 | 943 boys |
| 1890s | 1,378 | 726 boys |
| 1900s | 1,121 | 892 boys |
| 1910s | 687 | 1,456 boys |
| 1920s | 494 | 2,024 boys |
| 1930s | 366 | 2,732 boys |
| 1940s | 252 | 3,974 boys |
| 1950s | 177 | 5,653 boys |
| 1960s | 112 | 8,968 boys |
| 1970s | 93 | 10,730 boys |
| 1980s | 56 | 17,759 boys |
| 1990s | 38 | 26,582 boys |
| 2000s | 25 | 40,535 boys |
| 2010s | 30 | 33,738 boys |
| 2020s | 67 | 14,978 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Percy
What does the name Percy mean?
Percy means “from Percy, Normandy” in French.
What is the origin of the name Percy?
Percy has English, French roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Percy a boy or girl name?
Percy is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Percy?
Percy ranked #1,276 for US boys in 2025, given to 154 babies. Its best year was 1897 (#98).