Perpetua
Meaningeverlasting · Latin
Perpetua is a Spanish girl name meaning “everlasting”, with Latin roots. Names from Latin have been passed down since Roman times and still feel polished and timeless. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Famous Perpetua
Perpetua Nkwocha
Nigerian association football player
A ready-made answer when someone asks “Perpetua, like who?” Perpetua Nkwocha's Wikipedia article is in 22 languages. Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Photo: Anders Henrikson, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Perpetua would score 12 points.
- GenerationPerpetua is having its moment right now. Most Perpetuas are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Perpetua would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 72,993 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryPerpetua first shows up in US birth records in 2007, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
US births per million girls, 2007–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Perpetua
Perpetua is a girl name of Spanish origin meaning “everlasting”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, and plenty of room for a nickname, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Spanish names
More Spanish girl names
- Girl name: Sofia · wisdom
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Girl name: Maya · illusion
- Girl name: Liliana · lily
- Girl name: Lucia · light
- Unisex name: Jade · jade gemstone
- Girl name: Gabriella · God is my strength
- Girl name: Catalina · possibly pure
Questions about the name Perpetua
What does the name Perpetua mean?
Perpetua means “everlasting” and comes from Latin. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Khalida (“immortal, everlasting”) and Titilayo (“everlasting joy”).
What is the origin of the name Perpetua?
Perpetua is Spanish in origin, and its meaning traces back to Latin. Other Spanish names to consider are Sofia (“wisdom”), Camila (“temple attendant”), Maya (“illusion”) and Liliana (“lily”).
Is Perpetua a boy or girl name?
Perpetua is a girl name. In 2025, 22 US girls were named Perpetua.
How popular is the name Perpetua?
Perpetua ranked #5,554 for US girls in 2025, given to 22 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 2,852 places.
What names are similar to Perpetua?
If you like Perpetua, you might also like Khalida and Titilayo.
What should I know before naming my baby Perpetua?
Perpetua is a Spanish girl name meaning “everlasting”, with Latin roots. Names from Latin have been passed down since Roman times and still feel polished and timeless. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.