Holding steady.
Popularity of Pinkey since 1880
Babies named Pinkey per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1910, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pinkey's real moment was 1889.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 37 |
| 1890s | 66 |
| 1900s | 84 |
| 1910s | 90 |
| 1920s | 102 |
| 1930s | 42 |
| 1940s | 73 |
| 1950s | 75 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Pinkey is a rare name that briefly flickered in U.S. records during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It first appeared in 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data, and reached its highest frequency in 1889, when it was given to a small but notable number of girls. The name's trajectory has been stable over time, with no significant revival in later decades. Its etymology is uncertain, but it likely originated as a diminutive or variant of the color pink, used as a nickname. With a peak rank in 1889 and no top-state concentrations, Pinkey remains a curiosity of historical naming fashion rather than a contemporary choice.
The name Pinkey likely arose in the late 19th century as a variant of Pinkie, a pet name or diminutive derived from the word 'pink' (the color or the flower). It may also have been used as a nickname for a fair-skinned or rosy-cheeked child. First appearing in U.S. records in 1880, it saw modest use through the 1880s and 1890s, with its peak year in 1889. By the early 20th century, usage declined sharply.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Pinkie
Sibling names for Pinkey
Names that share Pinkey's style, for a brother or sister.
