50+ *Best* Boy Names That Start With P

On the hunt for modern baby boy names that start with p, but tired of coming up empty? Search ends here, mama – I’m a boy mom myself and I’ve hand-picked *these* p boy names that I just know you’re going to love –

Modern Boy Names That Start With P

Choosing a boy’s name that starts with P opens up a wide range of styles, from modern and trendy to strong and traditional. Below you’ll find over 35 options to explore, whether you’re drawn to something tough and bold, quietly unique, or classically vintage. Take your time browsing the list and see which P name feels like the right fit for your son.

Park

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PARK · ˈpɑːrk
• Meaning: English surname for a park-keeper or someone who lived by a park
• Popularity: #13,681 and falling (#13,643 → #13,681, 2024)

Palmer

• Origin: English (occupational surname)
• Pronunciation: PAH-mer · ˈpɑːmər
• Meaning: a palm-bearer; a pilgrim who had visited the Holy Land, carrying a palm frond as proof
• Popularity: #1,076 and falling (#944 → #1,076, 2024)

Porter

• Origin: Old French (occupational surname)
• Pronunciation: POR-ter · ˈpɔːrtər
• Meaning: one who carries goods, or a doorkeeper/gatekeeper
• Popularity: #615 and falling (#501 → #615, 2024)

Parker

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: PAR-kur · ˈpɑːrkər
• Meaning: an occupational surname for a gamekeeper or park-keeper
• Popularity: #97 and falling (#91 → #97, 2024)

Pax

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: PAKS · ˈpæks
• Meaning: Peace; also the Roman goddess who personified peace
• Popularity: #1,976 and rising (#2,287 → #1,976, 2024)

Badass Boy Names That Start With P

Tough boy names that start with P scream strength and confidence, giving your little one a head start in embodying a bold and fearless spirit.

Paxton

• Origin: Old English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PAK-stun · ˈpækstən
• Meaning: Settlement of a person named Pæcc (Old English) + tūn ‘town’
• Popularity: #288 and falling (#257 → #288, 2024)

Payden

• Origin: English (variant of Payton)
• Pronunciation: PAY-din · ˈpeɪdən
• Meaning: from the fighter’s farm
• Popularity: #6,372 and rising (#8,102 → #6,372, 2024)

Patton

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PAT-un · ˈpætən
• Meaning: fighter’s town
• Popularity: #2,325 and rising (#2,789 → #2,325, 2024)

Phoenix

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: FEE-niks · ˈfiːnɪks
• Meaning: the mythical firebird symbolizing rebirth and renewal
• Popularity: #275 and falling (#269 → #275, 2024)

Unique Boy Names That Start With P

Unique boy names that start with the letter P offer a sense of individuality and creativity, ensuring your child’s name is as special as they are.

Prescott

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: PRES-kuht · ˈprɛskət
• Meaning: priest’s cottage
• Popularity: #4,147 and rising (#4,571 → #4,147, 2024)

Potter

• Origin: English (occupational surname)
• Pronunciation: PAH-tur · ˈpɑːtər
• Meaning: one who makes pottery
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Parsons

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PAR-sunz · ˈpɑːrsənz
• Meaning: Occupational surname: servant or child of a parson (clergyman)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Powell

• Origin: Welsh (anglicized)
• Pronunciation: POW-ul · ˈpaʊəl
• Meaning: son of Hywel
• Popularity: #8,145 and falling (#8,104 → #8,145, 2024)

Padgett

• Origin: English (from ‘Page’ + diminutive suffix)
• Pronunciation: PAJ-it · ˈpædʒɪt
• Meaning: a young/little page (servant boy)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Portland

• Origin: Middle English (place name)
• Pronunciation: PORT-lund · ˈpɔːrtlənd
• Meaning: land by the harbor/port
• Popularity: #10,618 and rising (#11,898 → #10,618, 2024)

Perth

• Origin: Scottish (Pictish)
• Pronunciation: PURTH · ˈpɜːrθ
• Meaning: wood, copse, or thicket (from a reconstructed Pictish word)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Penn

• Origin: English (surname/place name)
• Pronunciation: PEN · ˈpɛn
• Meaning: as a surname, either ‘an enclosure’ or, from a Celtic place-name root, ‘hilltop/head’
• Popularity: #2,978 and falling (#2,119 → #2,978, 2024)

Perry

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: PER-ee · ˈpɛri
• Meaning: dweller by the pear tree
• Popularity: #1,242 and rising (#1,376 → #1,242, 2024)

Pascal

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: pass-KAL · pæˈskæl
• Meaning: Relating to Easter, from Late Latin paschalis
• Popularity: #2,773 and rising (#2,879 → #2,773, 2024)

Vintage Boy Names That Start With P

Vintage boy names that begin with P bring a classic and timeless charm, often evoking a sense of nostalgia and elegance.

Peter

• Origin: Ancient Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: PEE-tur · ˈpiːtər
• Meaning: rock or stone
• Popularity: #192 and rising (#210 → #192, 2024)

Philip

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: FIL-ip · ˈfɪlɪp
• Meaning: lover of horses, from philos (dear, loving) + hippos (horse); name of ancient Macedonian kings
• Popularity: #521 and falling (#499 → #521, 2024)

Pearson

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PEER-sun · ˈpɪərsən
• Meaning: Son of Piers (a medieval form of Peter)
• Popularity: #2,774 and rising (#3,041 → #2,774, 2024)

Peterson

• Origin: English/Scottish (also Scandinavian variants)
• Pronunciation: PEE-tur-sun · ˈpiːtərsən
• Meaning: son of Peter
• Popularity: #8,772 and rising (#11,894 → #8,772, 2024)

Pete

• Origin: Greek (via Peter)
• Pronunciation: PEET · ˈpiːt
• Meaning: short form of Peter, meaning ‘rock’
• Popularity: #3,076 and falling (#2,501 → #3,076, 2024)

Parks

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: PARKS · ˈpɑːrks
• Meaning: English surname meaning ‘of/from the park’
• Popularity: #2,382 and falling (#2,264 → #2,382, 2024)

Percy

• Origin: Norman French (place name, ultimately Latin)
• Pronunciation: PUR-see · ˈpɜːrsi
• Meaning: one who pierces the valley
• Popularity: #1,257 and rising (#1,562 → #1,257, 2024)

Whimsical Boy Names That Start With P

Whimsical boy names that start with P spark imagination and wonder, adding a touch of magic and playfulness to your child’s identity.

Percival

• Origin: Old French (Arthurian, probably from Welsh/Celtic)
• Pronunciation: PUR-si-vul · ˈpɜːrsɪvəl
• Meaning: probably from the Welsh Arthurian name Peredur, reshaped in Old French to resemble ‘pierce’ + ‘valley’
• Popularity: #1,768 and rising (#2,265 → #1,768, 2024)

Perrin

• Origin: French
• Pronunciation: PAIR-in · ˈpɛrɪn
• Meaning: diminutive of Pierre (Peter), meaning ‘rock’
• Popularity: #3,747 and falling (#3,326 → #3,747, 2024)

Perseus

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: PUR-see-us · ˈpɜːrsiəs
• Meaning: uncertain; popularly linked to a Greek root meaning ‘to destroy’ (disputed)
• Popularity: #1,290 and rising (#1,469 → #1,290, 2024)

Pippin

• Origin: uncertain — English word (from ‘pip, ‘ a seed/seedling apple) or the historical Frankish royal name Pepin, of disputed Germanic origin
• Pronunciation: PIP-in · ˈpɪpɪn
• Meaning: awe-inspiring
• Popularity: #9,628 and falling (#8,810 → #9,628, 2024)

Poet

• Origin: Greek (via Latin and French)
• Pronunciation: POH-it · ˈpoʊɪt
• Meaning: a writer of poetry
• Popularity: #4,822 and rising (#5,857 → #4,822, 2024)

More Names We Love

Patrick

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: PAT-rik · ˈpætrɪk
• Meaning: Noble, patrician (from Latin Patricius)
• Popularity: #221 and rising (#224 → #221, 2024)

Paul

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: PAWL · ˈpɔːl
• Meaning: Small or humble (from Latin Paulus)
• Popularity: #264 and falling (#256 → #264, 2024)

Preston

• Origin: Old English (place name)
• Pronunciation: PRESS-tun · ˈprɛstən
• Meaning: priests’ town or settlement
• Popularity: #329 and falling (#275 → #329, 2024)

Pedro

• Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
• Pronunciation: PAY-droh · ˈpeɪdroʊ
• Meaning: form of Peter, meaning ‘rock/stone’
• Popularity: #401 and rising (#421 → #401, 2024)

Prince

• Origin: English (from Old French/Latin princeps)
• Pronunciation: PRINSS · ˈprɪns
• Meaning: a ruler’s title; literally ‘first’ or ‘chief’
• Popularity: #404 and falling (#364 → #404, 2024)

Peyton

• Origin: English (surname/place name)
• Pronunciation: PAY-tin · ˈpeɪtən
• Meaning: uncertain; often glossed as ‘warrior’s estate’ but root not clearly confirmed
• Popularity: #658 and falling (#607 → #658, 2024)

Prosper

• Origin: French (from Latin prosperus)
• Pronunciation: PRAH-spur · ˈprɑːspər
• Meaning: fortunate, favorable
• Popularity: #2,692 and rising (#3,043 → #2,692, 2024)

Phinehas

• Origin: Hebrew (from Egyptian)
• Pronunciation: FIN-ee-uhs · ˈfɪniəs
• Meaning: uncertain; most likely from Egyptian ‘pa-nehesy’ (‘the Nubian/dark-skinned one’)
• Popularity: #3,193 and rising (#3,606 → #3,193, 2024)

Peregrine

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: PAIR-uh-grin · ˈpɛrəɡrɪn
• Meaning: traveler or pilgrim (from a Latin word originally meaning ‘foreigner’)
• Popularity: #3,365 and rising (#3,855 → #3,365, 2024)

Prem

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: PREM · ˈprɛm
• Meaning: love, affection
• Popularity: #6,376 and rising (#8,754 → #6,376, 2024)

Padraig

• Origin: Irish
• Pronunciation: PAW-rig · ˈpɔːrɪɡ
• Meaning: nobleman (Irish form of Patrick)
• Popularity: #7,585 and rising (#13,637 → #7,585, 2024)

Philippe

• Origin: French
• Pronunciation: fih-LEEP · fɪˈliːp
• Meaning: French form of Philip; lover of horses
• Popularity: #7,588 and falling (#4,700 → #7,588, 2024)

Phelan

• Origin: Irish
• Pronunciation: FAY-luhn · ˈfeɪlən
• Meaning: anglicized from Ó Faoláin, ‘descendant of Faolán’; Faolán is a pet form of ‘faol’ (wolf), roughly ‘little wolf’
• Popularity: #9,624 and falling (#9,523 → #9,624, 2024)

Phong

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: FAWNG · ˈfɔːŋ
• Meaning: wind
• Popularity: #9,626 and falling (#8,751 → #9,626, 2024)

Philemon

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: fih-LEE-muhn · fɪˈliːmən
• Meaning: affectionate, kindly
• Popularity: #10,616 and falling (#8,749 → #10,616, 2024)

Ptolemy

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: TOL-uh-mee · ˈtɒləmi
• Meaning: often linked to Greek ‘polemos’ (war), giving a sense of ‘warlike’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pacific

• Origin: Latin (word name)
• Pronunciation: puh-SIF-ik · pəˈsɪfɪk
• Meaning: peaceful, peace-making (from Latin pacificus, applied by Magellan to the ocean after a calm crossing)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Paidi

• Origin: Irish (hypocorism of Padraig); homograph with an unrelated Javanese name
• Pronunciation: PAW-jee · ˈpɔːdi
• Meaning: nobleman, as the Irish pet form of Padraig/Patrick
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pelle

• Origin: Scandinavian
• Pronunciation: PEL-eh · ˈpɛlə
• Meaning: diminutive of Peter, meaning ‘rock’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Parvat

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: PAR-vuht · ˈpɑːrvət
• Meaning: mountain
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pollux

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: PAHL-uks · ˈpɒləks
• Meaning: very sweet
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Proteus

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: PROH-tee-əs · ˈproʊtiəs
• Meaning: first
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prometheus

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: prə-MEE-thee-əs · prəˈmiːθiəs
• Meaning: forethought
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pericles

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: PAIR-ih-kleez · ˈpɛrɪkliːz
• Meaning: surrounded by glory, far-famed
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Paramjit

• Origin: Sanskrit/Punjabi
• Pronunciation: PUH-rum-jeet · ˈpʌrəmdʒiːt
• Meaning: supreme victory
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Parmdeep

• Origin: Sanskrit/Punjabi
• Pronunciation: PARM-deep · ˈpɑːrmdiːp
• Meaning: supreme lamp
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prabhdeep

• Origin: Sanskrit/Punjabi
• Pronunciation: pruhb-DEEP · prʌbˈdiːp
• Meaning: God’s lamp, lamp of the Lord
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prabhjot

• Origin: Sanskrit/Punjabi
• Pronunciation: pruhb-JOHT
• Meaning: God’s light
• Popularity: #13,615 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prabhnoor

• Origin: Punjabi (Sanskrit + Persian/Arabic loan)
• Pronunciation: pruhb-NOOR · prʌbˈnʊər
• Meaning: God’s light
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pyrrhus

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: PIR-us
• Meaning: flame-colored, red
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Polaris

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: poh-LAIR-is · pəˈlɛərɪs
• Meaning: of the pole star; the fixed northern star
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pankaj

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: PUN-kuj · ˈpʌŋkədʒ
• Meaning: lotus, literally ‘mud-born’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pausanias

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: paw-SAY-nee-us · pɔːˈseɪniəs
• Meaning: end of pain/grief
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Plato

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: PLAY-toh · ˈpleɪ.toʊ
• Meaning: broad
• Popularity: #6,597 as of 1977 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Paciano

• Origin: Latin (via Italian/Spanish)
• Pronunciation: pah-SYAH-noh · paˈsja.no
• Meaning: peaceful
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prasanna

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: prah-SAHN-nə · prəˈsʌnə
• Meaning: clear, calm, bright, pleased
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Prashant

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: pruh-SHAHNT · prəˈʃɑːnt
• Meaning: calm, tranquil
• Popularity: #11,787 as of 2016 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philibert

• Origin: Germanic (via Old French)
• Pronunciation: FEE-lee-bair · filiˈbɛʁ
• Meaning: very bright, greatly brilliant
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Priyesh

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: pree-YESH · priːˈjɛʃ
• Meaning: a dear or beloved lord/master
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Paulinus

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: paw-LY-nus · pɔːˈlaɪnəs
• Meaning: Diminutive/derivative of Paulus (‘small’); roughly ‘little one’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

How These Names Are Trending

21 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 21 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

21 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 21 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

14 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 13 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

14 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 13 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

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Wrapping Up

Naming your baby boy is such a personal and heartfelt journey, and finding the perfect P name can really give him a unique flair. Whether you’re into modern, badass, unique, vintage, or whimsical names, each style has its own beautiful and meaningful options that can perfectly match your dreams for your little one.

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