Priscilla
Meaningancient · Latin
- US rank
- #544
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #127 in 1940
555 babies were named Priscilla in the US in 2025. It has climbed 17 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, 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 Priscilla you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Priscilla
Priscilla Presley
American actress and businesswoman
Choose Priscilla and your child shares a first name with Priscilla Presley, an American actress and businesswoman. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Priscilla, like who?” Priscilla Presley's Wikipedia article is available in 59 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Priscilla Presley on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: See Li from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,896 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Priscilla, 555 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Priscilla would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPriscilla has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Priscillas, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1940, when it ranked #127. Today it's #544, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedPriscilla is most popular in Nevada, where it ranks #264, followed by Arizona (#306) and Arkansas (#335). It's in the top 1,000 in 30 states.
- MeaningIn Latin, Priscilla means “ancient”. Our records link it to American and Latin roots.
About the name Priscilla
Priscilla is a girl name of American and Latin origin meaning “ancient”. It has 9 letters and 3 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-lla”. US birth records list Priscilla for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked #127 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #544, with 555 babies.
Origin:American namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 287 | 3,488 girls |
| 1890s | 264 | 3,793 girls |
| 1900s | 319 | 3,132 girls |
| 1910s | 401 | 2,492 girls |
| 1920s | 677 | 1,476 girls |
| 1930s | 798 | 1,254 girls |
| 1940s | 1,277 | 783 girls |
| 1950s | 746 | 1,341 girls |
| 1960s | 563 | 1,775 girls |
| 1970s | 589 | 1,697 girls |
| 1980s | 931 | 1,074 girls |
| 1990s | 802 | 1,247 girls |
| 2000s | 521 | 1,920 girls |
| 2010s | 347 | 2,886 girls |
| 2020s | 299 | 3,346 girls |
Other spellings of Priscilla
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 Priscilla
What does the name Priscilla mean?
Priscilla means “ancient” in Latin.
What is the origin of the name Priscilla?
Priscilla has American, Latin roots in our records. Other American names include Lainey, Daisy, Josie.
Is Priscilla a boy or girl name?
Priscilla is a girl name.
How popular is the name Priscilla?
Priscilla ranked #544 for US girls in 2025, given to 555 babies. Its best year was 1940 (#127).