Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1918

Persis

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #16,680

Borrowed from Latin Persis, from Ancient Greek Περσίς (Persís), from Old Persian 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 (p-a-r-s /⁠Pārsa⁠/) + -ῐς (-ĭs, feminine suffix).

Rank 2025
#16,680
among girls
Babies in 2025
5
named Persis
How common
1 in 321,453
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1918
19 babies
All-time total
572
#10,870 all-time among girls
First recorded
1884
in Social Security records

Persis popularity over time

572 babies have been named Persis since 1884, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1884Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s 29 3 – #1,003
1890s 51 5 +76% #1,178
1900s 55 6 +8% #1,510
1910s 131 13 +138% #1,925
1920s 132 13 +1% #2,120
1930s 58 6 -56% #2,700
1940s 30 3 -48% #3,318
1950s 11 1 -63% #5,930
1960s 12 1 +9% #6,217
1970s – – – –
1980s 16 2 – #7,923
1990s 5 1 -69% #15,120
2000s 11 1 +120% #15,284
2010s 26 3 +136% #13,475
2020s (to 2025) 5 1 -68% #16,680

The story of Persis

Persis is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #16,680 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1884, 572 American babies have been named Persis. Its peak came in 1918, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Persis stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Persis?

The median living Persis is about 45 years old; half are between 15 and 81. An estimated 100 people named Persis are alive in the United States today.

median 45 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Persis year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 5 #16,680
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 6 #15,154
2018 7 #13,475
2017 – –
2016 7 #14,011
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 6 #16,468
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 5 #19,332
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 6 #15,284
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 5 #15,120
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 8 #7,923
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 6 #6,217
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 6 #4,241
1935 – –
1930 9 #3,272
1925 14 #2,590
1920 13 #2,699
1915 16 #2,030
1910 5 #2,710
1905 8 #1,510
1900 7 #1,696
1895 8 #1,278
1890 7 #1,178
1885 6 #1,025
1880 – –

Famous people named Persis

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Persis Khambatta Persis Khambatta Indian model and actress (1948–1998) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Persis, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Persis?

The median living Persis is about 45 years old. Half of all living Persiss are between 15 and 81 years old.

How many people named Persis are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Persis are alive in the United States, based on 572 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Persis mean?

Borrowed from Latin Persis, from Ancient Greek Περσίς (Persís), from Old Persian 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 (p-a-r-s /⁠Pārsa⁠/) + -ῐς (-ĭs, feminine suffix).

How popular is the name Persis in 2025?

Persis ranked #16,680 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Persis?

572 babies have been named Persis in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Persis most popular?

Persis peaked in 1918, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Persis a boy or girl name?

Persis is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Persis rising or falling?

Persis is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Persis?

Well-known people named Persis include Persis Khambatta (actor).

Names like Persis

Names that sound and feel close to Persis: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Persis with similar names → More names starting with P →