Precious
Girl name · American · French · Latin
Meaningprecious · English
- US rank
- #3,130
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #376 in 1996
51 babies were named Precious in the US in 2025. It has dropped 307 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1897–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Precious you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 31,546 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Precious, 51 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Precious would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPrecious first shows up in US birth records in 1897, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 128 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1996, when it ranked #376. Today it's #3,130, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowPrecious was 11× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 2,803 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 31,546.
- TrendPrecious has slipped 307 places over the last five years and now sits at #3,130. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Precious means “precious”. Our records link it to American, French and Latin roots.
About the name Precious
Precious is a girl name of American, French and Latin origin meaning “precious”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-ous”. US birth records list Precious for girls from 1897 to 2025, in 126 of those 129 years. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked #376 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #3,130, with 51 babies.
Origin:American namesFrench namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 15 | 66,815 girls |
| 1900s | 19 | 53,677 girls |
| 1910s | 14 | 69,204 girls |
| 1920s | 17 | 57,339 girls |
| 1930s | 13 | 77,220 girls |
| 1940s | 12 | 85,616 girls |
| 1950s | 8.6 | 116,144 girls |
| 1960s | 18 | 54,555 girls |
| 1970s | 66 | 15,074 girls |
| 1980s | 206 | 4,866 girls |
| 1990s | 351 | 2,847 girls |
| 2000s | 296 | 3,376 girls |
| 2010s | 83 | 12,057 girls |
| 2020s | 43 | 23,256 girls |
More American girl names
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Josie · he will add
- Unisex name: Kinsley · king's meadow
- Girl name: Sienna · from Siena
- Unisex name: Brooklyn · from Brooklyn, New York
- Girl name: Summer · summer
- Unisex name: Stevie · crown
Questions about the name Precious
What does the name Precious mean?
Precious means “precious” in English.
What is the origin of the name Precious?
Precious has American, French, Latin roots in our records. Other American names include Lainey, Daisy, Josie.
Is Precious a boy or girl name?
Precious is a girl name.
How popular is the name Precious?
Precious ranked #3,130 for US girls in 2025, given to 51 babies. Its best year was 1996 (#376).