Declining since 2012, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Piers since 1952
Babies named Piers per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 29 |
| 1990s | 43 |
| 2000s | 83 |
| 2010s | 102 |
| 2020s | 33 |
Meaning & origin
Piers is a distinctly masculine name that has maintained a consistent but low profile in the United States. First recorded in Social Security Administration data in 1952, it reached its peak rank of 9,731 in 2013, but has since experienced a gradual decline. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 341,615 newborn boys was named Piers, placing it at rank 12,008. This trajectory reflects the name's relative rarity and British association, as it never broke into the top 1,000 nationally. The name's strongest historical tie is to the 14th-century poem 'Piers Plowman,' and it remains more common in the United Kingdom than in the U.S. The slim popularity of Piers suggests it is chosen primarily by parents with a specific affinity for English names or family heritage.
Piers is a Middle English form of Peter, derived from the Greek Petros (rock). It was common in medieval England, notably through the allegorical figure Piers Plowman. The name experienced a revival in the 20th century, especially in the UK.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pier
Sibling names for Piers
Names that share Piers's style, for a brother or sister.
