This page brings together 71 English names that start with the letter P, running alphabetically from “Pearl” to “Phyliss.” You’ll find a rich mix here, from timeless classics like Peter and Paul to floral charmers like Poppy and Peony, plus literary picks and modern unisex choices. People use these names every day when choosing a baby name, naming a character in a story, or simply exploring the meaning behind a favorite.
English names are the given names commonly used across English-speaking countries, shaped over centuries by language, religion, royalty, and culture. Many trace back to Greek, Latin, or Hebrew roots before settling into familiar English forms. Phoebe, for example, surged in popularity thanks to a beloved television character, showing how names stay alive through stories and screens.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Gender, Origin, Meaning, Famous Namesakes, and Description.
Name: This shows you each name in its standard spelling, so you can quickly scan the full list and spot the ones that catch your eye.
Gender: This tells you whether a name is typically used for girls, boys, or works comfortably as a unisex choice for anyone.
Origin: This points to the language or culture a name comes from, helping you understand its background and the tradition it carries.
Meaning: This explains what each name actually stands for, so you can choose one whose sense matches the feeling or hope you want.
Famous Namesakes: This lists well-known people or characters who share the name, giving you a sense of its style and real-world associations.
Description: This offers a short, friendly summary of each name’s history, popularity, and charm, making it easier to decide if it suits you.
English names
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Famous Namesakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl | Female | English | A precious gem formed in oysters | Pearl Bailey, Pearl Buck |
| Penelope | Female | English (via Greek) | Weaver | Penelope Cruz, Penelope Wilton |
| Peter | Male | English (via Greek) | Rock or stone | Peter Pan, Peter Sellers |
| Philip | Male | English (via Greek) | Lover of horses | Prince Philip, Philip Roth |
| Phoebe | Female | English (via Greek) | Bright or radiant | Phoebe Buffay, Phoebe Waller-Bridge |
| Poppy | Female | English | The bright red flower | Poppy Delevingne |
| Phyllis | Female | English (via Greek) | Foliage or green bough | Phyllis Diller |
| Preston | Male | English | Priest’s town | Preston Tucker |
| Penny | Female | English | Diminutive of Penelope | Penny Marshall |
| Piper | Female | English | One who plays the pipes | Piper Laurie, Piper Perabo |
| Perry | Male | English | Dweller by a pear tree | Perry Como, Perry Mason |
| Patience | Female | English | The virtue of patience | Patience Strong |
| Prudence | Female | English | Caution or good judgment | Prudence (Beatles song) |
| Primrose | Female | English | First rose; the spring flower | Primrose Everdeen |
| Page | Unisex | English | An attendant or young servant | Page (various) |
| Paige | Female | English | Young attendant | Paige Davis |
| Paddington | Male | English | Padda’s estate | Paddington Bear |
| Peregrine | Male | English (via Latin) | Traveler or pilgrim | Peregrine Took |
| Posy | Female | English | A small bunch of flowers | Posy Simmonds |
| Pippa | Female | English | Diminutive of Philippa | Pippa Middleton |
| Philippa | Female | English | Lover of horses (feminine) | Philippa Gregory |
| Patrick | Male | English (via Latin) | Nobleman or patrician | Patrick Stewart, Patrick Swayze |
| Paul | Male | English (via Latin) | Small or humble | Paul McCartney, Paul Newman |
| Petra | Female | English (via Greek) | Rock or stone (feminine) | Petra Kvitová |
| Portia | Female | English (via Latin) | From a Roman family name | Portia de Rossi |
| Posey | Female | English | A small bouquet of flowers | Parker Posey |
| Percy | Male | English | Pierce valley; from a Norman place | Percy Shelley |
| Percival | Male | English (via French) | One who pierces the valley | Sir Percival |
| Prince | Male | English | Royal son; a prince | Prince (musician) |
| Petunia | Female | English | The trumpet-shaped flower | Petunia Dursley |
| Polly | Female | English | Diminutive of Mary | Polly Adler |
| Phillip | Male | English (via Greek) | Lover of horses | Phillip Schofield |
| Parker | Unisex | English | Keeper of the park | Parker Posey |
| Pansy | Female | English | The pansy flower; thought | Pansy Parkinson |
| Patricia | Female | English (via Latin) | Noblewoman | Patricia Highsmith, Patricia Arquette |
| Paulina | Female | English (via Latin) | Small or humble (feminine) | Paulina Porizkova |
| Payton | Unisex | English | From the warrior’s estate | Payton (various) |
| Peyton | Unisex | English | Fighting man’s estate | Peyton Manning, Peyton List |
| Posie | Female | English | A small bunch of flowers | Posie Graeme-Evans |
| Philomena | Female | English (via Greek) | Lover of strength | Philomena Lee |
| Primula | Female | English (via Latin) | First; the primrose flower | Primula Bond |
| Persephone | Female | English (via Greek) | Bringer of destruction (mythic) | Persephone (mythology) |
| Petal | Female | English | A flower petal | Petal (various) |
| Pip | Unisex | English | Diminutive of Philip or Philippa | Pip (Great Expectations) |
| Posthumus | Male | English (via Latin) | Born after the father’s death | Posthumus (Cymbeline) |
| Pollyanna | Female | English | Blend of Polly and Anna | Pollyanna (novel) |
| Pearce | Male | English | Son of Piers; rock | Pearce (various) |
| Piers | Male | English (via Greek) | Rock or stone | Piers Morgan, Piers Plowman |
| Posy | Female | English | A small flower bouquet | Posy Fossil |
| Pearla | Female | English | Little pearl | Pearla (various) |
| Petronella | Female | English (via Latin) | Rock (feminine elaboration) | Petronella Wyatt |
| Phineas | Male | English (via Hebrew) | Oracle or serpent’s mouth | Phineas Fogg, Phineas Gage |
| Pamela | Female | English | All sweetness; honey | Pamela Anderson, Pamela Lyndon Travers |
| Paris | Unisex | English | From the city; mythic prince | Paris Hilton |
| Patty | Female | English | Diminutive of Patricia | Patty Hearst, Patty Duke |
| Pru | Female | English | Diminutive of Prudence | Pru (various) |
| Peony | Female | English | The lush peony flower | Peony (various) |
| Petworth | Male | English | Peot’s enclosure | Petworth (place) |
| Pierce | Male | English | Son of Piers; rock | Pierce Brosnan |
| Peta | Female | English | Rock or stone (feminine) | Peta Wilson |
| Posey | Unisex | English | A small bunch of flowers | Tyler Posey |
| Prunella | Female | English (via Latin) | Little plum; self-heal plant | Prunella Scales |
| Pearline | Female | English | Like a pearl | Pearline (various) |
| Page | Female | English | Young attendant | Page (various) |
| Petula | Female | English | Possibly from Latin for to seek | Petula Clark |
| Perdita | Female | English (via Latin) | Lost | Perdita (Winter’s Tale) |
| Phelan | Male | English (via Irish) | Like a wolf | Phelan (various) |
| Powell | Male | English (via Welsh) | Son of Hywel | William Powell |
| Prue | Female | English | Diminutive of Prudence | Prue Leith |
| Paulette | Female | English (via French) | Little Paul | Paulette Goddard |
| Phyliss | Female | English | Foliage; green bough | Phyliss (various) |
Descriptions
Pearl
A vintage English name taken straight from the lustrous white gemstone, popular in the late 1800s and seeing a modern revival.
Penelope
Rooted in Greek myth but long beloved in English-speaking countries, it conjures the loyal wife of Odysseus and shortens to Penny.
Peter
One of the most enduring English names, borne by the apostle and countless figures, it has stayed steadily popular for centuries.
Philip
A classic English royal name carried by kings and a Duke of Edinburgh, often spelled Phillip and shortened to Phil.
Phoebe
A light, airy English name with mythological roots, it surged in popularity thanks to television and its sunny meaning.
Poppy
A cheerful English floral name evoking remembrance and summer fields, hugely fashionable across Britain in recent decades.
Phyllis
A botanical English name that peaked in the early 20th century, lending a vintage, leafy charm.
Preston
An English surname-turned-first-name drawn from a place name, popular as a strong, modern boys’ choice.
Penny
A friendly short form of Penelope used as a standalone English name, breezy and approachable.
Piper
An occupational English surname now a spirited unisex first name, especially fashionable for girls.
Perry
An English name from a tree-related surname, casual and friendly, also used as a short form of Peregrine.
Patience
A Puritan virtue name from English tradition, quietly dignified and occasionally revived for its gentle meaning.
Prudence
Another English Puritan virtue name, old-fashioned yet charming, often shortened to Pru.
Primrose
A delicate English floral name evoking early spring blooms, given fresh fame by popular fiction.
Page
An English occupational surname used as a sleek unisex first name, also spelled Paige.
Paige
A popular modern English spelling of the medieval page, crisp and contemporary for girls.
Paddington
An English place name famous as a London district and a beloved fictional bear, rare but distinctly English.
Peregrine
A distinguished English name meaning wanderer, also the name of a falcon, carrying an aristocratic air.
Posy
A sweet English name referring to a little flower bouquet, dainty and increasingly stylish.
Pippa
A perky English short form of Philippa, propelled into fashion by royal weddings.
Philippa
The elegant feminine form of Philip, a refined English name often shortened to Pippa or Pip.
Patrick
Though tied to Ireland, Patrick is widely used across the English-speaking world, sturdy and traditional.
Paul
A timeless English name borne by the apostle, consistently popular and easy across generations.
Petra
The feminine counterpart to Peter, a sleek English name also shared with the ancient rose-red city.
Portia
A literary English name made famous by Shakespeare’s clever heroine in The Merchant of Venice.
Posey
A flowery variant spelling of Posy, gentle and old-fashioned with renewed appeal.
Percy
An aristocratic English name with Norman roots, romantic and vintage, also short for Percival.
Percival
A knightly English name from Arthurian legend, grand and chivalrous, often shortened to Percy.
Prince
A regal English name signaling royalty, bold and distinctive as a given name.
Petunia
A vibrant English floral name from the garden bloom, quirky and rarely used but instantly recognizable.
Polly
A cheerful English pet form of Mary, old-fashioned yet endearing, also linked to parrots in nursery rhyme.
Phillip
A common alternate English spelling of Philip with the same horse-loving Greek meaning.
Parker
An English occupational surname now a trendy unisex first name, brisk and modern.
Pansy
A delicate English floral name from the cheerful garden bloom, with vintage and literary associations.
Patricia
The feminine form of Patrick, a mid-century English favorite, warmly shortened to Pat, Patty, or Tricia.
Paulina
A graceful feminine form of Paul, soft and international yet at home in English.
Payton
A modern English place-name surname used as a unisex first name, a popular variant of Peyton.
Peyton
A trendy English surname-name, strongly unisex and especially fashionable in recent decades.
Posie
A pretty variant of Posy, this English flower name feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Philomena
A melodic English name with saintly and literary ties, vintage but lyrical, often shortened to Mena.
Primula
A botanical English name linked to the primrose, dainty and uncommon with a soft elegance.
Persephone
A dramatic English-used name from the Greek goddess of spring and the underworld, lush and poetic.
Petal
A soft, romantic English nature name evoking the delicate part of a flower, sweet and rare.
Pip
A charming English short form famous from Dickens, snappy and gender-neutral.
Posthumus
A rare Shakespearean English name with Latin roots, unusual and antique in flavor.
Pollyanna
A spirited English compound name synonymous with relentless optimism thanks to the classic children’s novel.
Pearce
An English surname form of Piers and Peter, sturdy and understated as a first name.
Piers
A medieval English form of Peter, refined and literary, long used in Britain.
Posy
A tender English flower name for a small nosegay, sweetly old-fashioned and quietly trendy.
Pearla
A diminutive form of Pearl, this English gem name adds a soft, ornamental flourish.
Petronella
An ornate English-used name derived from Peter, vintage and elaborate with continental charm.
Phineas
A quirky, antique English name borne by literary travelers and inventors, fun and nerdy-cool.
Pamela
An English literary invention from a 16th-century poem, hugely popular mid-century and shortened to Pam.
Paris
A glamorous English-used name evoking the French capital and the Trojan prince, chic and unisex.
Patty
A breezy English pet form of Patricia, warm and casual with retro charm.
Pru
A neat English short form of Prudence, compact and old-fashioned in a stylish way.
Peony
A romantic English floral name from the showy garden bloom, opulent and increasingly fashionable.
Petworth
A rare English place-name borrowed as a surname and occasional first name, distinctly British.
Pierce
An English surname-name form of Peter, sleek and suave thanks to its Bond-era association.
Peta
A short feminine form of Peter, crisp and modern, popular in Britain and Australia.
Posey
A flowery English surname and given name, gentle and nostalgic with growing appeal.
Prunella
A whimsical botanical English name with a vintage theatrical air, rare but memorable.
Pearline
An ornamental elaboration of Pearl, this English gem name carries an antique, Southern softness.
Page
A trim English occupational name used for girls, neat and contemporary, also spelled Paige.
Petula
An uncommon English name popularized by a singer, jaunty and mid-century in feel.
Perdita
A Shakespearean English name meaning lost, poetic and rare with a wistful, literary beauty.
Phelan
An English-used surname of Gaelic origin, rugged and uncommon as a first name.
Powell
An English surname-name of Welsh derivation, dignified and occasionally used as a given name.
Prue
A tidy English short form of Prudence, warm and old-fashioned, lately revived.
Paulette
A dainty feminine English form of Paul with French flair, elegant and mid-century.
Phyliss
A variant spelling of Phyllis, this leafy English name keeps a strong vintage charm.