Priscilla
Girl name · #544 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
Priscilla ranks #544 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 555 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #501, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,243 girls born in 2025 was named Priscilla.
Babies named Priscilla per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Priscilla first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 26 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1942, when 1,988 girls were named Priscilla — good for #135 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Priscilla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Priscilla in class?
Priscilla scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Priscilla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Priscilla is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Priscillas were CA (93), TX (61), FL (41), NY (26), AZ (23). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Priscilla
Statistically, parents drawn to Priscilla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marcella, Claudia, Gloria, Kathryn, and Virginia.
MarcellaClaudiaGloriaKathrynVirginiaCarmellaMarthaCatherine
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Priscilla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 555 | #544 |
| 2024 | 487 | #613 |
| 2023 | 452 | #649 |
| 2022 | 411 | #714 |
| 2021 | 478 | #620 |
| 2020 | 523 | #561 |
| 2019 | 487 | #618 |
| 2018 | 535 | #577 |
| 2017 | 592 | #526 |
| 2016 | 669 | #476 |
| 2015 | 636 | #501 |
| 2014 | 652 | #483 |
| 2013 | 637 | #479 |
| 2012 | 632 | #488 |
| 2011 | 612 | #484 |
| 2010 | 621 | #486 |
| 2009 | 772 | #412 |
| 2008 | 777 | #412 |
| 2007 | 876 | #374 |
| 2006 | 874 | #373 |
| 2005 | 909 | #345 |
| 2004 | 921 | #346 |
| 2003 | 1,080 | #288 |
| 2002 | 1,090 | #285 |
| 2001 | 1,130 | #279 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Priscilla a popular girl name?
Priscilla ranked #544 among girls in 2025 with 555 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #501.
When was the name Priscilla most popular?
Priscilla peaked in 1942, when 1,988 American girls received the name (ranked #135 that year). Since 1942 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Priscilla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,243 newborn American girls was named Priscilla. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.