Holding steady.
Popularity of Prentis since 1904
Babies named Prentis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1942, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Prentis's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 105 |
| 1920s | 167 |
| 1930s | 140 |
| 1940s | 195 |
| 1950s | 157 |
| 1960s | 123 |
| 1970s | 131 |
| 1980s | 118 |
| 1990s | 56 |
| 2000s | 31 |
| 2010s | 14 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Prentis is an extremely rare given name, used almost exclusively for boys. First recorded in 1904, it reached its peak in 1906, then faded into consistent obscurity. The name is a variant of the surname Prentice, which originally indicated an apprentice. Although it has never been common, its stable trajectory suggests it has seen occasional use in every decade since the early 1900s. Prentis does not appear in any top state lists, reinforcing its status as a truly uncommon choice.
Prentis is likely a variant of Prentice, an English occupational surname for an apprentice, from Middle English 'prentis' meaning 'apprentice'. The name has been used as a given name since the early 20th century, though it remains rare. Its peak usage occurred in 1906, and it has stayed consistently uncommon since then.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Prent, Renny
Variants: Prentice
Sibling names for Prentis
Names that share Prentis's style, for a brother or sister.
