Baby names that start with P

P names: pearls, poppies and Greek philosophers

P is a plosive: your lips close, pressure builds, and the sound pops. The Phoenicians called their letter pe, which means mouth. P names feel punchy and bright, from Poppy and Piper to Parker and Philip. They also have a classical edge, since Greek supplies the biggest group of names in our list.

Greek heroes, thinkers and goddesses

Penelope is the patient weaver of the Odyssey, Phoebe means "bright" and "radiant", and Pandora means "all-gifted". Among the boys, Plato means broad, Pericles means "surrounded by glory" and Philip means "lover of horses". Psyche means soul. Greek names have the staying power of stories that have been retold for twenty-five centuries.

Gems, flowers and fabric

English has a collection of P names that pull from the garden and jewellery box: Pearl, Poppy, Primrose and Piper. Paisley comes from a Scottish town known for its patterned cloth, and Parker, Preston and Peyton are surname-style names that feel relaxed and modern.

The accents add variety. Irish Padraig is Patrick, Spanish Paloma means dove, and Persian Parisa means "like a fairy". Padma and Pooja from India are linked with the lotus and with worship.

P names worth a closer look

• Penelope Girl · Greek · Weaver

  A name with a literary pedigree and the playful nickname Penny.

• Phoebe Girl · Greek · Bright, radiant

  A short Greek name that sounds friendly and is easy to spell.

• Primrose Girl · English · First rose

  A vintage flower name that suggests spring and has the nickname Rosie.

• Padraig Boy · Irish · Noble

  The Irish form of Patrick, for families who want an authentic Gaelic spelling.

• Paloma Girl · Spanish · Dove

  A Spanish name for the dove, with a soft sound and a peaceful image.

Famous people whose first names start with P

• Pablo Picasso, the Spanish painter who co-founded Cubism
• Plato, the Greek philosopher who founded the Academy in Athens
• Paul Robeson, the singer, actor and civil rights advocate
• Phillis Wheatley, the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry
• Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the Russian composer of Swan Lake
• Penélope Cruz, the Spanish actor and Oscar winner
• Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician remembered for his theorem

Questions about P names