Primrose
The surname derives from a place name in Fife, Scotland; Watson (1926) derived this from Pictish/Proto-Brythonic *prenn (“wood, tree”) + *rros (“moor, heath”).
Every Primrose since 1914 — 1,033 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Primrose
Primrose is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,561 in 2025 with 69 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1914, 1,033 American babies have been named Primrose. Its peak came in 2021, when 93 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Primrose stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Primrose year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | #2,561 |
| 2024 | 91 | #2,115 |
| 2023 | 91 | #2,120 |
| 2022 | 88 | #2,170 |
| 2021 | 93 | #2,068 |
| 2020 | 85 | #2,147 |
| 2019 | 87 | #2,151 |
| 2018 | 77 | #2,380 |
| 2017 | 59 | #2,865 |
| 2016 | 59 | #2,895 |
| 2015 | 51 | #3,245 |
| 2014 | 42 | #3,703 |
| 2013 | 35 | #4,224 |
| 2012 | 17 | #7,386 |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 5 | #7,081 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | 7 | #3,776 |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | 9 | #3,276 |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,612 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,823 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Primrose mean?
The surname derives from a place name in Fife, Scotland; Watson (1926) derived this from Pictish/Proto-Brythonic *prenn (“wood, tree”) + *rros (“moor, heath”).
How popular is the name Primrose in 2025?
Primrose ranked #2,561 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 69 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Primrose?
1,033 babies have been named Primrose in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Primrose most popular?
Primrose peaked in 2021, when 93 newborns received the name.
Is Primrose a boy or girl name?
Primrose is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Primrose rising or falling?
Primrose is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.