Holding steady.
Popularity of Paraskevi since 1968
Babies named Paraskevi per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2005, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Paraskevi's real moment was 1976.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 57 |
| 1980s | 63 |
| 1990s | 43 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 27 |
Meaning & origin
Paraskevi is a Greek name with deep religious significance, tied to the concept of preparation and the day of the week Friday. In the U.S., it has remained extremely rare, never appearing in national popularity rankings. The peak year for the name was 1976, when a handful of families chose it for their daughters. Since then, its use has been stable but minimal, reflecting its strong cultural ties to Greek Orthodox tradition rather than mainstream American naming trends. The name is sometimes shortened to nicknames like Evi or Vivi, which feel more accessible outside of Greece. Because of its religious and cultural specificity, Paraskevi is most often found within Greek-American communities, and it carries a distinctive, heritage-rich identity.
Paraskevi is a Greek name derived from the word παρασκευή (paraskevi), meaning 'preparation' or 'preparedness.' In Christian tradition, it refers to the day of preparation before the Sabbath, i.e., Friday, and is thus a name associated with Good Friday (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή, Great Friday). It has been used in Greece and among Greek diaspora communities, often given to girls born on a Friday or as a namesake for the saint.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Evi, Vivi, Paraskevoula
Sibling names for Paraskevi
Names that share Paraskevi's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anastasia, Eleni, Katerina, Sofia, Theodora
Brothers: Dimitris, Georgios, Konstantinos, Nikolaos, Panagiotis
