Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1916

Petronella

Meaning rock Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

From Latin Petronella, feminine diminutive of Petronius, a Roman family name possibly derived from petra "rock".

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Petronella
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1916
19 babies
All-time total
335
#15,009 all-time among girls
First recorded
1884
in Social Security records

Petronella popularity over time

335 babies have been named Petronella 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 5 1 – #1,137
1890s 5 1 0% #1,610
1900s 22 2 +340% #1,581
1910s 142 14 +545% #1,407
1920s 96 10 -32% #2,478
1930s 36 4 -62% #2,697
1940s 29 3 -19% #3,746
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Petronella

Petronella is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1884, 335 American babies have been named Petronella. Its peak came in 1916, 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 Petronella stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Petronella year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 5 #4,881
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 13 #2,744
1920 10 #3,299
1915 17 #1,941
1910 6 #2,351
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

What does the name Petronella mean?

From Latin Petronella, feminine diminutive of Petronius, a Roman family name possibly derived from petra "rock".

How popular is the name Petronella in 2025?

Petronella did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Petronella?

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

When was the name Petronella most popular?

Petronella peaked in 1916, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Petronella a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Petronella rising or falling?

Petronella has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Petronella

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

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