Holding steady.
Popularity of Para since 1902
Babies named Para per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Para's real moment was 1902.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 82 |
| 1920s | 105 |
| 1930s | 64 |
| 1940s | 40 |
| 1950s | 38 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Para is an exceptionally rare name in the United States, with its earliest recorded usage occurring in 1902. According to Social Security Administration data, the name has never ranked in the top 1000, and its peak year was 1902, when it was given to a handful of newborns. The trajectory since then has been stable, with negligible usage. The name's origins remain obscure; it may derive from the Greek Paraskevi or could be a modern English abbreviation. For parents drawn to unusual names with a historical footnote, Para offers a unique choice without widespread association.
Para is a rare given name of uncertain origin. It may be a variant of the Greek name Paraskevi, which refers to the day of preparation for the Sabbath, or it could be a modern coinage derived from the English word 'para' (short for parachute or paragraph). In some contexts, it might serve as a diminutive of longer names. Its use as a first name in the United States dates back to the early 1900s, but it has never achieved widespread popularity.
Sibling names for Para
Names that share Para's style, for a brother or sister.
