Holding steady.
Popularity of Purvis since 1900
Babies named Purvis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Purvis's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 108 |
| 1920s | 184 |
| 1930s | 151 |
| 1940s | 144 |
| 1950s | 111 |
| 1960s | 115 |
| 1970s | 75 |
| 1980s | 43 |
| 1990s | 26 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Purvis is a rare American given name that originated as a surname. Its peak in usage occurred in 1905, when it was most frequently recorded. The name has remained stable in rarity since then, reflecting its status as an uncommon choice. While it did not achieve widespread popularity, its presence in early 20th-century records shows it was part of the era's trend of adopting surnames as first names. Despite never ranking in the top 1000 in recent decades, Purvis has a distinct vintage feel, similar to other surname-names of that period.
Purvis is a transferred use of an English surname of uncertain derivation. It may be a variant of the French surname Prouvost or Prevost, meaning 'provost' or 'steward'. Alternatively, it could originate from a place name. The surname was first recorded in medieval England and has been used as a given name primarily in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Purv
Sibling names for Purvis
Names that share Purvis's style, for a brother or sister.
