A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Percy since 1880
Babies named Percy per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Percy's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,166 |
| 1890s | 1,571 |
| 1900s | 1,517 |
| 1910s | 4,210 |
| 1920s | 5,439 |
| 1930s | 3,860 |
| 1940s | 3,697 |
| 1950s | 3,537 |
| 1960s | 2,157 |
| 1970s | 1,538 |
| 1980s | 1,036 |
| 1990s | 736 |
| 2000s | 492 |
| 2010s | 557 |
| 2020s | 691 |
Meaning & origin
Percy has a long history as both a surname and given name, rooted in Norman French aristocracy. Records show it has been in use in the United States since at least 1880, when it first appeared. The name reached its peak rank of 1276 in 1897, during the 1890s, a decade that saw its highest frequency. After declining for much of the 20th century, Percy has been on an upward trajectory since 2009. Today, it is given to about 1 in 11,091 boys in the U.S., making it a relatively uncommon but recognized choice. Geographically, Percy has seen greater relative popularity in states such as Utah, Minnesota, and Louisiana. Its history as a classic surname-turned-first name gives it a traditional feel, while its recent revival aligns with a broader trend toward vintage names.
Percy is a surname transferred to first name use. It originated as a Norman baronial name from Percy-en-Auge in Normandy, France. The name was brought to England after the Norman Conquest and became prominent through the powerful Percy family, Earls of Northumberland. In Ireland, Percy is sometimes used as an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Peairse. The name saw popular use as a given name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often as a diminutive of Percival.
Where Percy is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Percy” around the world
Where Percy lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Perce, Perry
Sibling names for Percy
Names that share Percy's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alice, Edith, Mabel, Beatrice, Florence, Tennie, Alfrieda, Arta, Calypso, Ellice, Trilby, Perline, Prudy, Tassie, Priseis
Brothers: Alfred, Arthur, Walter, Harold, Clarence, Cedric, Dudley, Achilles, Curtiss, Melville, Neville, Audley, Ector, Oddie, Pasco, Alvey, Everard, Osborn, Willey, Dandy, Lovelace, Pelham, Warnie
