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Percy Name Meaning, Origins & History

Percy

Pronunciation: PUR-see

Meaning From Percy Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,279
TREND
22
GIRLS RANK
#9,941
TREND
1,137
Peak Years
1921, 1920, 1922
Lowest Years
2008, 2009, 2011
Energy Archetype
Intellectual & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Percy in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Percy

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Percy appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 2 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1897 through 1897.
  • More than 32 thousand babies named Percy: U.S. records list 32,842 babies given the name Percy from 1880 through 2025. Even 636 girls received the name Percy - about 1 girl for every 51 boys.

What Does the Name Percy Mean?

Percy is an English given name taken from the English surname Percy, which comes from a place name in Normandy: Percy-en-Auge. That place name is usually explained as a Gallo-Roman formation, combining the Roman personal name Persius with the suffix -acum, a Celtic-derived element used in Latin place names to mean "estate" or "settlement." The literal sense is therefore "estate of Persius." The identification of the first element as Persius is probable rather than certain, and some references give the meaning more generally as "from Percy." Percy is not etymologically related to Percival, although it is sometimes used as a short form of that name.

Percy Name History & Origins

The surname Percy came to England with the Norman Conquest. William de Percy, a Norman baron who died around 1096, received lands in England, and his descendants became the Percy family, later earls of Northumberland. The family took its name from Percy-en-Auge in Normandy, and the surname is found in English records from the medieval period. As a given name, Percy developed later from the surname, following the English practice of using surnames as first names. It was in use as a first name in England by the 17th century, sometimes in families with ties to the Percy family, and it became more common in the 19th century. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822) is a well-known bearer, but he did not originate the name. The surname is also familiar from Henry Percy, called Hotspur, a historical figure and a character in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1; that is a use of the surname, not evidence for the given name's origin. Although Percy is sometimes used as a short form of Percival, the two names developed separately.

How Popular is the Name Percy?

Percy recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1921. Percy ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1893 through 1893, then returned in 1897 and remained through 1897.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Percy

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Percy Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Percy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Percy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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